Short qualification grant
We pay grants for the successful completion of approved short qualifications which take less than one year and that focus on the core construction skills needed across the industry.
For achievements from September 2025, any qualification achieved at an ‘Award’ level will receive the grant value of £240.
‘Award' level qualifications typically have a shorter duration with fewer modules to complete, and the cost to undertake this level is usually lower, therefore this is reflected in the new grant payment.
Overview
We pay grants for the achievement of approved short qualifications in core construction skills. These include:
NVQ between Levels 2 to 6 and SCQF at Levels 5 to 10
National Examination Board in Occupational Safety and Health (NEBOSH) National Certificate in Construction Health and Safety
Plant-related vocational qualification (VQ) achievements
Additional units related to the Level 2 Plant Operations VQ.
Qualifications can be delivered in a number of ways including:
Off-the-job training
Through on-site assessment (OSAT)
Through experienced worker practical assessment (EWPA)
By distance and e-learning
Outside conventional working hours (evenings or weekends).
Short qualification grants are not available to support individual achievements that form part of other longer qualifications. Please see the Long qualification grant page or Apprenticeship grants page for details.
Who can apply for this grant?
You can apply if you’re a CITB Registered employer and up to date with your Levy Returns. As well as fulfilling our general Grants Scheme policy and specific requirements for this grant.
You can apply for this grant for all directly employed staff on the payroll, business owners and partners, and all subcontractors.
Which qualifications are covered for grant?
How much is it?
We pay grant for short qualifications at the following rates, determined by the duration, complexity and sometimes other industry factors.
Qualification | Achieved up to December 2025 | Achieved from January 2026 |
Standard rate | £600 | £600 |
Specific Management qualifications | £1500* | £600 |
Specific Supervision qualifications | £1250* | £600 |
Specific Rainscreen Cladding qualifications | £1000 | £1000 |
Level 2 Plant Operations VQ - Additional units | £300 | £300 |
Awards - Level 2 or higher | £240 | £240 |
*Enhanced grant for Management or Supervision qualifications is only payable for the first qualification achieved by an individual up to the end of December 2025. Subsequent achievements in these categories will receive the standard £600 rate. The enhancement ends at the end of December, and all Management and Supervision qualifications achieved from January 2026 will receive £600.
Visit the list of qualifications we pay grant for to see which grant rate is available for your specific achievement.
Short qualification grant is payable up to a maximum of four grants at each level per individual. You can only apply once for an individual for the same achievement.
Level 2 Plant VQ units are payable up to a maximum of three per individual. The plant VQ unit achievements are also included in the cap of four Level 2 achievements per individual. Where there is a previous grant for a full plant operations VQ, future plant operations achievements will only be considered for the plant related VQ unit grant.
Enhanced rates for management and supervision qualifications will no longer be available for qualifications achieved from 1 January 2026 onwards.
NVQ Level 7 qualifications - The course must have started by 8 December 2025 and be successfully completed by 31 March 2028. You must inform CITB of the start date by submitting evidence to grant.product@citb.co.uk no later than 31 March 2026. Failure to provide this evidence by the deadline will result in your application being rejected.
How to apply
Apply for this grant through the CITB Online Services portal within 52 weeks of the achievement date. Simply sign up or sign in to get started.
Find out more about the Online Services portal, including:
How to sign up and access your employer
What is available in the portal
User guides and videos showing step by step how to apply for grant
If you are unable to use the Online Services portal, you can apply for grant by email. Download the individual application form to apply for one achievement, or the bulk application from if you wish to apply for multiple learners or achievements at once and send it to us at the email address below.
Save and email your completed application form to grant.claimforms@citb.co.uk.
Attach a copy of the achievement certificate or achievement notification email from the awarding body. Your application cannot be processed without this evidence.
For support on applying for this grant you can contact your local CITB Adviser or our Customer Services team on 0344 994 4455.
Have you sent us your bank details?
Grants are paid by bank transfer. If we do not hold your current bank details, please complete and submit the secure online Bacs Direct Credit Authorisation Form to receive grant payments