Sector Skills Plans

What are Sector Skills Plans?

Sector Skills Plans are tailor-made strategies designed to address the specific needs of different sectors within the construction industry. They are owned and shaped by construction industry stakeholders, outlining clear actions and interventions to the skills challenges in each sector.

They are a collaborative effort, giving employers a greater say in how and where CITB support and investment is directed. Sector Skills Plans are live programmes of activity that will evolve to meet the changing skills, training and recruitment needs of a sector – reflecting the evidence-based need determined by members of that sector. CITB is contributing resource, linking in existing products and services, and providing investment where appropriate.

Live Plans

Homebuilding

The Homebuilding Sector Skills Plan, established in 2023, is tailored to meet the specific needs of the homebuilding industry. Driven by employers and stakeholders, the plan aims to align the supply of skilled workers with the sector's growing demands. Over three years, CITB is investing more than £3 million in the initiative, focusing on both attracting new talent and upskilling the current workforce. This will be achieved through multi-skilled hubs and a variety of flexible training options, ultimately improving quality, boosting productivity, and reducing defects. Led by the Home Builders Federation in collaboration with other employer representative bodies, this initiative is crucial in supporting the sector to deliver the 300,000 homes needed annually to meet housing demand.

Upcoming Plans

Infrastructure

The UK infrastructure sector accounts for approximately 20% of all construction activity, with an annual output of around £50 billion. According to the latest CSN Industry Outlook (2024-28), infrastructure is one of the areas within the construction industry experiencing the highest demand for new recruits. Additionally, analysis of the National Infrastructure and Construction Pipeline indicates a need for up to 600,000 workers to deliver the engineering and construction projects it outlines. To tackle this challenge, the Infrastructure Sector Skills Plan has been developed. Guided by insights from industry experts through the Infrastructure Sector Advisory Group, the plan will address 8 key challenges including the attraction of new entrants, quality and availability of training and support for employers.

Repair, Maintenance and Improvement

The Repair, Maintenance and Improvement (RMI) Sector Skills Plan aims to identify the specific skills needs and requirements across various occupations within the RMI sector. The plan will focus on two key areas – domestic retrofit, and heritage and traditional buildings. Each area is supported by its own Sector Skills Advisory Group. Brian Berry, CEO of the Federation of Master Builders, chairs the domestic retrofit group, while James Butcher, Director of Strategy and Operations at the National Federation of Builders, leads the heritage and traditional buildings group. £3.8 million has been allocated to the plan to develop tailored strategies, projects and interventions that address the unique needs of each area within the sector.

Commercial, Public Non-Housing, Industrial and High-Rise Residential

The Commercial, Public Non-Housing, Industrial, and High-Rise Residential (CPIH) Sector Skills Plan aims to develop and deliver a clear strategy that helps CITB target support in addressing competence and recruitment challenges across the sector. Key objectives include tackling skills shortages, closing competence gaps, and ensuring the workforce meets industry demands. The plan focuses on efficient allocation of funding to provide maximum value for Levy payers, with measurable targets aligned to its goals. It supports the implementation of competence standards through the Industry Competence Steering Group (ICSG) and promotes collaboration to enhance existing successful initiatives. Additionally, it seeks to maximise other funding opportunities, such as the CITB Industry Impact Fund and local or regional funding interventions, while ensuring transparency by sharing learnings to improve sector-wide consistency.