Update

CITB supports over 30,000 learners with apprenticeship grants in the 2025-26 financial year

The new figures reveal that over the same period, more than 10,000 employers were supported – of which over 9,000 are small and micro enterprises.

Published: 18 May 2026

The Construction Industry Training Board (CITB) has today released its 2025-26 financial year (FY) grants figures. CITB has provided a total of £120 million for all grants, including £68 million in apprenticeship grants, helping to support the industry to develop a skilled, competent and inclusive workforce.

In the FY 2025-26, 30,837 apprentices were supported. The apprenticeship grants provided have also supported 10,410 construction employers in the past year – of which 9,258 are small and micro businesses.

CITB’s Travel to Train grant, for construction employers in England, Scotland and Wales, exists to support apprentices who need to travel for block-release training. The money received covers travel as well as accommodation costs. This year, it has supported 3,794 learners and 1,217 employers who have received a total of £8.2 million in Travel to Train grant support.

In addition, CITB also offers qualification grants, which support registered construction employers with the cost of training their workforce beyond just apprentices. CITB data from April 2025 to March 2026 reveals that 22,690 learners, as well as 3,088 employers received £21.7 million of qualification grant support. Out of the 3,088 employers supported in the past FY, 2,185 were small and micro businesses.

CITB’s Construction Workforce Outlook (CWO) finds that construction output is expected to grow by an average of 2.1% per year from now until 2029. The CWO also finds that an average of 47,000 extra construction workers are required each year to meet demand and CITB’s grants remain vital in building a sustainable and resilient construction workforce.

Deb Madden, Executive Director, Customer Engagement and Operations, said:

“We’re committed to ensuring the construction industry remains at the forefront of skills development, and we’re so pleased to have been able to support so many employers to take on new people and help train their employees.

“Supporting employers to recruit and retain apprentices is critical to building the skilled workforce the industry needs. Without sustained recruitment and training, labour shortages risk project delays and increased costs, and we’re pleased to be playing a part in providing the support employers and learners need to help build the workforce of tomorrow, today.”

For more information on CITB grants and funding support, visit Funding and support.