CITB Levy & Grants Guide
Everything a small groundworks contractor needs to know about CITB in 2026. Registration, levy, grants, and the January changes explained.
What Changed on 8 January 2026
CITB restructured its grant funding system with one month's notice. The key changes:
- 1. Most short course grants (SMSTS, SSSTS, plant training) moved from standard grants to Employer Networks
- 2. Grant rates reduced: standard short courses now funded at 50% (was 70%), H&S courses at 30%
- 3. First aid training removed from funding entirely
- 4. You now need to engage with a CITB Employer Network adviser before claiming for many courses
Transitional rule: If you booked training before 8 December 2025, you can still claim at the old rates until 31 March 2026.
Do I Need to Register? Am I Paying the Levy?
Answer these questions to find out where you stand with CITB.
Does your business carry out construction work in the UK?
This includes groundworks, civil engineering, drainage, concreting, paving, fencing, and demolition. It also includes managing or supervising such work.
2026 Grant Rates for Groundworks-Relevant Training
These are the courses that matter for groundworks firms, with the current grant amounts. Last updated 31 March 2026.
| Course / Qualification | Grant Amount | Claiming Route | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| NVQ Achievement Grants (Standard Grants Scheme) | |||
| NVQ Level 2 (e.g. Groundworks) | £600 | Standard grant claim | Claim after certificate issued |
| NVQ Level 3 (e.g. Supervisory) | £900 | Standard grant claim | Claim after certificate issued |
| NVQ Level 4+ (e.g. Management) | £1,250 | Standard grant claim | Claim after certificate issued |
| Short Courses (via Employer Networks from January 2026) | |||
| SMSTS (Site Management Safety Training) | £115 | Employer Network | Was £240 before Jan 2026 |
| SSSTS (Site Supervisor Safety Training) | £115 | Employer Network | Was £115 (unchanged) |
| SMSTS Refresher (2-day) | £60 | Employer Network | Was £115 before Jan 2026 |
| Plant training (CPCS/NPORS) | Varies (50%) | Employer Network | Must be agreed with adviser in advance |
| Asbestos awareness | £30 | Employer Network | H&S course (30% funding rate) |
| No Longer Funded | |||
| First aid at work | £0 | N/A | Removed from all CITB funding |
| First aid refresher | £0 | N/A | Removed from all CITB funding |
Grant amounts correct as of 31 March 2026. CITB reviews rates periodically. Check citb.co.uk/grants for the latest figures.
What Are Employer Networks?
This is the new system that replaced direct grant claims for most short courses.
Before January 2026, the process was simple: book a course, send your employee, submit a grant claim, receive money. That still works for NVQ achievement grants. But for most short courses (SMSTS, SSSTS, plant training, H&S courses), you now need to go through an Employer Network.
How it works
- 1. Contact your regional CITB adviser. Call CITB on 0344 994 4400 or email customer.services@citb.co.uk and ask to be connected to your regional Employer Network. They'll assign you an adviser.
- 2. Discuss your training needs. The adviser will ask what training your workforce needs over the coming year. For a typical groundworks firm, this might be: 2 x SMSTS refreshers, 3 x CPCS renewals, 1 x NVQ Level 2.
- 3. Agree a training plan. The adviser helps you identify which courses are fundable and at what rate. They may also suggest additional training you hadn't considered.
- 4. Book and complete the training. You book the courses yourself with your chosen provider. The training doesn't have to be through CITB-approved providers specifically, but it must be recognised training (e.g. CITB-accredited SMSTS, not a random online course).
- 5. Submit the grant claim. After the training is completed, submit your claim through the CITB portal or via your adviser. The grant is paid to your business account.
Is it worth the hassle?
For a firm spending £5,000+ per year on training, yes. The grant amounts are lower than they were, but they still offset a significant portion of the cost. For very small firms spending under £2,000 on training annually, the administrative overhead of engaging with an adviser may feel disproportionate, but the initial conversation takes 30 minutes and the adviser does most of the paperwork.
Worked Example
A typical small groundworks contractor and their CITB position for 2026.
The firm: 8 direct employees, 3 regular CIS subcontractors
PAYE wage bill: £320,000 | CIS subcontractor payments: £120,000 | Total: £440,000
Levy Calculation
| PAYE levy (£320,000 × 0.35%) | £1,120 |
| CIS levy (£120,000 × 1.25%) | £1,500 |
| Total levy | £2,620 |
Training Plan for the Year
| Training | People | Cost | Grant |
|---|---|---|---|
| NVQ Level 2 Groundworks (assessment-only) | 2 | £2,000 | £1,200 |
| SMSTS Refresher | 2 | £600 | £120 |
| CPCS Renewal (360 excavator) | 3 | £1,200 | ~£600 |
| CPCS New (forward dumper) | 1 | £700 | ~£350 |
| First aid at work | 2 | £400 | £0 |
| Totals | £4,900 | ~£2,270 | |
Net Position
| Levy paid | -£2,620 |
| Grants received | +£2,270 |
| Net cost of levy | -£350 |
This firm pays £2,620 in levy and gets £2,270 back in grants. The net cost of the levy is £350, and their workforce now has two more Blue CSCS cards, two refreshed SMSTS certificates, three renewed CPCS cards, and a new plant ticket. Without the grants, the same training would cost the full £4,900.
Key Dates
Passed
8 Jan 2026
New grant structure took effect
Short courses moved to Employer Networks. Reduced rates applied.
Deadline
31 Mar 2026
Transitional claims deadline
Last date to claim at old grant rates for training booked before 8 December 2025.
Annual
30 Nov
Levy Return submission deadline
Submit your annual Levy Return for the previous tax year. Required even if your levy is £0.
Deadline
31 Mar 2027
Final deadline for 2025/26 grant claims
All grant claims for training completed in the 2025/26 financial year must be submitted by this date.
Quick Levy Calculator
Estimate your annual CITB levy based on your wage bill and CIS subcontractor payments.
Total gross wages paid to employees via PAYE
Total paid to CIS-registered subcontractors
PAYE Levy
£1,120
at 0.35%
CIS Levy
£1,500
at 1.25%
Total Levy
£2,620
annual amount
Sources
- CITB Levy, Grants and Funding - Official CITB information hub
- CITB Grants & Funding - Current grant rates and claiming process
- Federation of Master Builders - Industry commentary on CITB changes
- Target Zero Training - Detailed grant rate explainers
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