CITB apprenticeship funding hits £68m as construction skills shortages continue

By Danny BallPublished On: May 28th, 2026Categories: Top Stories

CITB has provided £68 million in apprenticeship grants over the past financial year, supporting more than 30,000 apprentices as the construction sector continues to face significant labour shortages.

New figures released by CITB for the 2025-26 financial year show that 30,837 apprentices received support through its grants system, while 10,410 construction employers benefited from apprenticeship funding. Of those businesses, 9,258 were classified as small and micro firms.

The figures come as the industry continues to face mounting workforce pressures, with CITB’s latest Construction Workforce Outlook forecasting that an additional 47,000 workers per year will be needed until 2029 to meet expected demand.

According to CITB, construction output is forecast to grow by an average of 2.1% annually over the next four years, increasing pressure on contractors and employers already struggling to recruit skilled workers.

The latest grants data highlights the scale of industry reliance on financial support mechanisms to recruit and retain apprentices, particularly among smaller firms that make up a large proportion of the UK construction supply chain.

In total, CITB provided £120 million in grants across apprenticeships, qualifications and workforce support during 2025-26.

Travel and training costs remain major barrier for apprentices

CITB’s Travel to Train grant scheme distributed £8.2 million during the year to help apprentices cover accommodation and transport costs linked to block-release college training.

The funding supported 3,794 learners and 1,217 employers across England, Scotland and Wales.

Qualification grants, designed to support wider workforce training beyond apprenticeships, provided £21.7 million to 22,690 learners and 3,088 employers. More than 2,100 of those businesses were small and micro companies.

The figures underline ongoing concerns across the industry around training accessibility, workforce retention and the ability of employers to maintain productivity while investing in skills development.

CITB says apprenticeship support remains critical

Deb Madden, Executive Director, Customer Engagement and Operations at CITB, 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.”