What's happening in your area
We will be arranging CITB grant and funding surgeries across Greater Birmingham in the coming months. Further information to follow.
Working Well Together (WWT) was set up as a joint industry/HSE initiative to help the industry improve its health and safety performance – particularly among the smaller construction businesses.
WWT offers training days focussed on health and safety. Many of the events are free. In the West Midlands the active WWT groups are Birmingham, Worcestershire and Herefordshire and Staffordshire and Shropshire.
See the list of planned events and find out more about WWT
Business services support
Greater Birmingham and Solihull Growth Hub can help advise on funding, finance and support available locally and can work with you to develop your business, your staff and realise your growth ambitions. The Growth Hub has information on funding available at all stages of your business development. You can use the online service to do an initial finance search and you can arrange to speak to a business advisor.
Find out more from the GBSLEP website
Solihull for Success is a business support service for businesses looking to locate, start up and grow in Solihull.
Support includes:
- Start Up Businesses – for the latest support and information, contact our Enterprise for Success advisors.
- Business Growth Programme 2 Grant Schemes:
- Property Investment Programme (PIP) Grant Scheme: to encourage the improvement and development of key vacant, derelict or underused properties and sites for economic use, the grant programme will operate in the Greater Birmingham and Solihull Local Enterprise Partnership (GBSLEP) area.
- ART Business Loans: A Community Development Finance Institution (CDFI) which provides business loans of between £10,000 and £150,000 to businesses and social enterprises in the West Midlands that are unable to receive their full funding requirements from their bank.
- Venture Capital/Business Angel Networks: There are a range of options within the West Midlands that specialise in finance for both early stage and established businesses.
Visit Solihull for Success website for details
Workwise travel support gives jobseekers a helping hand with travel costs, offering 50% off bus, train and tram travel passes for up to 12 weeks.
This offer is available to jobseekers who live in, or are registered with, a Jobcentre in the West Midlands to overcome travel barriers.
Further information on the workwise web pages
Funding to help your business grow
The Greater Birminghan and Solihull Growth Hub has information on funding available at all stages of your business development. You can use the online service to do an initial finance search and you can arrange to you can arrange to speak to a business advisor.
https://www.gbslepgrowthhub.co.uk/business-advice
Training groups in your area
There are three groups active in your area:
| Name |
Area covered |
Key contact details |
| Herefordshire and Worcestershire Construction Training Group |
Construction Employers based in Herefordshire and Worcestershire |
Key contact: Karen Whitehouse
Chair of the group: Laurence Speller
Postal address:
Hill Cross Barn
Tedstone Delamere
Herefordshire, HR7 4PR
|
| Hire Train |
Plant hire companies across the UK |
Chair of the group: Graham Arundale
Postal address:
2450 Regents Court
The Crescent
Birmingham Business Park
Solihull, B37 7YE
Website: www.hae.org.uk
|
|
Midlands Construction Training Group
|
Construction Employers based in the Midlands |
Key contact: Debbie Westwood
Chair of the group: Ron Pinfield
Postal address:
Unit 39 Austcliffe Park
Kidderminster, DY10 3UR |
Training projects already funded by CITB
CITB provided £122,569 to support a project led by BAM Nuttall focussed on Tackling the Gender Pay Gap – Progression for Women in Construction.
Women into Construction are working with Bam Nuttall, Bouygues, Ardmore Construction, other Tier 1 construction companies and their supply chains to identify barriers, challenge employers’ working practices, behaviours and cultural norms.
This project will allow WiC to deliver advice and guidance, training and mentoring to support low-paid female construction workers progress into better paid, more secure employment in the future
The project started in Feb 2019 and will run to September 2020 across the South East and The Midlands.
Your local CITB Advisors
Martin Bruton - Solihull, Sutton Coldfield and South Birmingham
Hi I’m Martin Bruton. As there is such a lot going on around Birmingham the patch is split between me and my colleague Sarah Duignan to ensure that we can respond to your queries quickly and effectively.
I have been with CITB since January 2017 after many years working with businesses to help them meet regulatory requirements.
I am fascinated by the work the industry does and impressed by the skill and professionalism shown by construction businesses. So I am very pleased to be able to help them train their employees and develop their businesses.
I look forward to hearing from you and having the chance to help you get the trained workforce you and the industry needs.
Contact me:
Sarah Duigan Advisor for Birmingham City Centre and the surrounding local areas
I was born in Birmingham, I really love the city and the vibrant feel it provides. Construction is booming across Birmingham and I am happy to support you with local knowledge, CITB funding, Grants CITB products and services, Career information and local projects. I can provide you with information on relevant stakeholders that also work across Birmingham that may also provide support for your business.
Please contact either Martin or Sarah for details of your local CITB Apprenticeship Officer