Time to vote on whether our CITB has a future. But first, please consult!

The Construction Industry Training Board has been around since July 1964. It is one of the last statutory training boards to survive and it has shaped our industry through its longevity and influence on our recruitment and skills. Later this year levy payers have a chance to vote on whether the organisation survives, as it only exists through regular support of its levy payers. However, before then levy payers have the opportunity to have their voices heard through their consultation.

For many the decision will be easy. Many pay the Apprentice Levy and they believe that double taxation is unfair and unnecessary. Others will look at the costs of the CITB levy relative to the subsidies that they receive and make a decision purely on their net position. All will have a view, some informed and some less informed, but all valid.

Our industry has a reputation for shortsightedness on strategic issues and I would urge you to think long term on what our industry might look like with and without the CITB. We have a huge number of longer term challenges to overcome that relate to people and skills if we are to remain relevant to our customers. In a fast changing environment how will these issues be addressed and are individual companies up to this challenge?

The loss of the CITB would in my view remove a significant moderator in providing a level playing field for all companies to recruit and train. 86% of our companies are SMEs and these businesses provide flexibility and resilience to our industry. They also carry out a significant element of industry recruitment and training. I have attended meetings with local, non-construction businesses who really struggle to identify new recruits and then put them through any structured training. I'm not sure what the long term prognosis would be for our SMEs if their ability to recruit and train was made more difficult. From a Stepnell perspective, does a reduction in the calibre of my supply chain mean that I will have to move to employing more operatives, or will changes in training and accreditation mean that there will be a sea of self-employed professionals that we can use as and when we need?

If we start with the long view and work back then we can determine what sort of CITB we need and want. This is where the consultation is important. Please take time to think what value looks like to your organisation in the long term and then respond. This is your CITB, you pay for its upkeep and if you don't comment then this is really a vote for the status quo.

My own view is that our industry delivers real value when we collaborate and work together. After fifty six years the CITB has had a significant impact on the structure of our industry and any change will have far reaching consequences for all our businesses. Whilst not a fan of current industry business models, I'm not convinced that the loss of the CITB will aid our industry's medium term prospects. That being the case, my next job is to think through the structure and priorities that I might like to see and respond to the consultation.

Mark Wakeford - Joint MD of Stepnell & Chair of the Major Contractors Group of the NFB