NFB votes to back CITB for another three years

Members of the National Federation of Builders (NFB) have decided to back the Construction Industry Training Board (CITB) for another three years.

The CITB levy proposals for 2018-2020 were approved by 60% of levy-paying members, while 40% voted against.

While this result can be seen as a vote of confidence, regular conversations with members have seen them call for radical reform at CITB.

NFB said that its members see the value of an industry training body, but they are particularly unimpressed about CITB’s distribution of levy proceeds, which has seen major contractors receiving a disproportionately larger share than SMEs.

Richard Beresford, chief executive of the NFB, said, “We’re extremely proud of our members’ reputation as local job creators. SMEs are frequently praised as the engine of our economy, but the way funding currently works means they are running on fumes.

“It’s unfortunate that this vote comes before we’ve had a chance to see whether CITB’s reforms have benefited the industry. These reforms need to continue to ensure future support.”