Employer Networks
Employer Networks are an initiative set up and funded by CITB aiming to simplify the way you get the support and funding you need to access the training you want. It’s all part of the service. Collectively employers are shaping the way funds provided by CITB are spent, and on what.
What are Employer Networks?
Employer Networks (ENs), setup and funded by CITB, are a collaboration between CITB and local employers. They have two main objectives:
Make it easier for you to access the training and funding you need, and
Bring together employers and other stakeholders at a local level to effectively use training provision to address immediate and future skills needs in their region.
This highly successful initiative, launched in 2022, has seen more employers supported than ever before, and by working with area steering groups the aim is to deliver the right training, to the right people, at the right time - to meet local needs.
Collectively employers are shaping the way funds provided by CITB are spent, and on what.
Support and funding
From April 2026, micro to medium employers – those that employ between 1 to 249 employees - will be able to book training at 50% match funding or at a fixed contribution for health and safety courses. Large employers will now have their own separate fund.
What does the fund cover?
Employer size | Employer Networks cap 2026-27 | Average Employer Networks claim by employer size in 2025-26 |
|---|---|---|
Micro (1 – 9 employees) | £1,500 | £1,282 |
Small (10 – 49 employees) | £2,000 | £2,180 |
Medium (50 – 249 employees) | £4,500 | £5,195 |
Employer caps are defined at the start of each financial year and reviewed annually.
Recent funding changes mean that most construction specific short duration courses, including Health & Safety, can now be funded through Employer Networks and we encourage new and innovative training such as net zero, green skills and leadership & management.
The exceptions are:
Scaffolding - which remains partially funded through the CITB grants route
Plant Training - which remains partially funded through the CITB grants route
A small number of specialist short courses. See full list of course exceptions
First Aid Training – which is no longer funded.
How does funding work?
We’ve made the process as simple as possible. Once your training has been booked your training provider will invoice you with the proportion of the total cost you need to pay and when by, and CITB will pay the difference.
Our aim is to support as many eligible employers as possible with their training needs, however Employer Networks funding is budget-led, not demand-led and funding values are subject to change. Should area demand be projected to exceed available funding then non mandatory training will be prioritised.
The budget is reviewed regularly by CITB and the local employer steering groups.
Their purpose is to engage with other local employers and advise how funding should be prioritised and allocated, and to effectively use training provision to address immediate and future skills needs in their region. To find out more or to get involved in the employer steering group, speak to your CITB Adviser.
Working together to address the skills gap
Employer Networks offer much more than just funded training. The networks provide an opportunity for employers to come together at a local level to inform CITB on training needs, advise on funding priorities, and work collectively to address immediate and future skills gaps in their region. This insight is shared with training providers to inform decisions on future courses and training they might wish to offer, providing a joined-up approach that delivers the skills outcomes needed.
86% of employers stated that the process of accessing training was simpler through Employer Networks.
Register your interest
We are running Networks across Great Britain - if you'd like your Engagement Adviser to get in touch, fill in our online form.
Local network areas
If you are based in one of the areas below and are CITB-registered, you can benefit from being part of an Employer Network.
North
Network area | Contact details |
Cumbria and Lancashire |
|
Greater Manchester |
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Merseyside and Cheshire |
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Northeast and Teeside |
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North & East Yorkshire & Humberside |
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South & West Yorkshire |
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Midlands and East
Network area | Contact details |
Bedfordshire and Hertfordshire |
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Birmingham, Black Country, Coventry and Warwickshire |
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Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire |
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Leicestershire and Northants |
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Lincolnshire, Cambridgeshire and Peterborough |
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Norfolk and Suffolk |
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Oxfordshire, Buckinghamshire and Berkshire, Milton Keynes |
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The Marches, Stoke and Staffordshire, Worcestershire |
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London
Network area | Contact details |
London Central and West |
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London North and East |
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London South |
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South East
Network area | Contact details |
East and West Sussex |
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Essex |
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Kent |
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Surrey |
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South West
Network area | Contact details |
Devon and Cornwall |
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Dorset, Avon and Somerset |
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Gloucestershire, Swindon and Wiltshire |
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Hampshire and Isle of Wight |
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Scotland
Network area | Contact details |
Scotland North - Aberdeen City - Aberdeenshire, Dundee and Angus |
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Highlands and Islands, Argyll, Moray |
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Dumfries and Galloway, Ayrshire |
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Lothian and Borders, Perth Fife and Clacks |
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Scotland Central |
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Wales
Network area | Contact details |
North and Mid Wales |
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South East Wales |
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South West Wales |
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Testimonials
"Having the Employer Network has enabled us to offer a wider variety of training courses to our team both on site and in the office. With the support from the Norfolk Construction Training Group we have been able to navigate the process effectively and efficiently."
"The simplicity and broad scope of the initiative has allowed us to offer training to more employees than we initially budgeted for over the year, which is fantastic news as a business and for the individual."
Stacey Felmingham - Office Coordinator, Aspect Group Services Ltd
"We’ve already booked in a number of upskilling courses for our existing staff. The increased funding has helped our business financially, allowing us to organise even more training, with no additional admin or claim forms to be submitted in order to receive the funding."
"The reduced administration has allowed our staff to focus on other things and knowing the employer network had everything in place on our behalf was such a weight lifted from our shoulders, knowing the funding was in hand."
Kelsey Burnett - Training Coordinator, Luddon Construction Ltd, Scottish Civils
"We heard about the Cyfle Employer Network through Carmarthenshire Construction Training Association Ltd. By tapping into the training organised by the local employer network contractors are able to benefit from training that would otherwise be difficult to source and more expensive, as training providers require a minimum number to run a training course."
The additional funding made available through the network has enabled us to use our training budget to increase training opportunities across the company."
Andrea Gravell - Resource Director, Lloyd & Gravell Ltd, Llanelli
Large Employers
The new Large Employer Fund launched 1 April 2026.
More information
What do I need to do to benefit from Employer Networks?
As long as you are registered with CITB, up to date with your levy and have an Employer Network in your area you can access & benefit from this service.
Will it cost me anything to join?
Employer Networks are free to join for any levy-registered employer.
Are there any other costs?
Each Employer Network has a budget to spend on training. The employers within the network decide how funds are used for the greatest benefit.
Once your training has been booked, your training provider will invoice you with the proportion of the total cost you need to pay and when by, and CITB will pay the difference.
Is this only for face to face training?
No. The training can be face-to-face (in person or tutor-led online) or e-learning.
Is there a limit to how many can join an Employer Network?
There are no limits whatsoever - as long as employers meet the criteria mentioned above then as many as wish to join, can do so.
I'm a member of a TG, can I still access funded training via an EN?
Yes of course; you can continue as a TG member and still benefit from ENs. If your GTO knows your training needs they can pass this straight on to the EN Adviser. TGs and ENs will be working closely together to ensure employers received the best support and access to training to meet their skill needs.
What else is available to you?
Employer Networks are just one part of CITB’s wider offer. Employers can also access financial support through:
Short course grants (plant, scaffolding, and other exempted standards)