Plant standards and grants

On this page:

• Overview
• What is changing?
• Industry update: Plant standards and grant April 2023
• Expected grant rates
• When will the changes take place?
• Training provider next steps
• Employers what happens next

Overview

During October and November 2021, we carried out a consultation exercise with industry in order to gain views on what the new Plant Short Duration Training Standards and Grants should look like.

The aim of the review was to simplify employer access to plant grants whilst maintaining high standards of training and testing in this safety critical area. We worked closely with industry including employers and federations throughout this process, drawing on their knowledge and expertise.

We had 246 responses to the survey, link to the consultation which is now closed.

A full analysis of the feedback has been carried out. Using this evidence, in conjunction with further discussions with industry representatives, we are creating eight new plant standards for the most frequently accessed plant training and made changes to the grant scheme for these new standards.

What is changing?

Industry update: Plant standards and grant April 2023

CITB has announced an update to planned changes to its plant standards and grants for the eight most commonly used standards to further standardise training and testing requirements across the construction industry.

Following an update in December CITB is pleased to confirm the card schemes delivering the training and testing have now mapped their courses against the new plant standards to ensure consistency across the industry in this safety critical area.

In addition, CITB Approved Training Organisations (ATOs) providing plant training have been identified to ensure a smooth rollout of the new standards and grants. CITB will continue to work closely and collaboratively with the card schemes to provide support during the transition to the new plant standards.

The new standards and grants are on track to launch later in Summer with system development work now taking place to ensure the grant payments for training and testing are provided in one single payment. Previously, different grants needed to be claimed for training and testing. Employer feedback during our plant consultation was that the plant grant application process needed to be simplified. In addition, the system development work will mean that any training to the new standards is recorded accurately in the Construction Training Register.

This will benefit both construction employers and learners as the register is a central online portal that allows individuals and employers to search for a construction worker's training achievements and qualifications.

Expected grant rates

For those who require some training before taking a test, CITB are introducing an “experienced” plant grant rate. In order to be eligible for the grant, experienced training will have to cover all elements covered in the new training standard and is expected to be 1-2 days in length for many types of plant.

A separate, higher “novice” grant rate will be available for employers who are putting staff through plant training, who have never had experience in the type of machinery they are being trained in. This is to help respond to the industry’s need for more people to become highly skilled and competent plant operators.

Current grant rates and the expected grant rates for the eight new standards are detailed below:

When will the changes take place?

The changes to the first eight plant standards will take place in Summer 2023. Changes to the remaining plant standards will follow.

The work of writing the other new plant training standards is continuing. If you might be interested in joining an industry working group which is helping to develop the new plant training standards, please email standards.qualifications@citb.co.uk for further details about what is involved and how to sign up.

I am a plant training provider, what are the next steps?

Training providers should contact their card schemes, who we are working closely with us to roll out the new plant standards. They will be advising their training providers on the steps they need to take to continue to deliver grant eligible training.

If you are a training provider that already provides plant training on behalf of a CSCS partner card scheme, but you are not an Approved Training Provider, you can sign up to become an ATO by visiting our How to become an ATO webpage.

I am an employer, what happens next?

From Summer 2023, any training your employees complete under the new plant standards must be completed by an ATO and lead to a CSCS card to be eligible for grant.

The way you claim grant will also be changing. Over the coming months we will share more information and additional resources to help guide you through the new process.

Any other plant training that is separate from the new standards will remain eligible for grant and you will claim the grant in the same way you currently claim it.