The Government has announced the launch of a consultation to explore the principle of merging the Construction Industry Training Board (CITB) and the Engineering Construction Industry Training Board (ECITB) into a single entity.

Scheduled to run for 12 weeks, the move follows an independent review published in January 2025 which suggested that the role of the Industry Training Boards (ITBs) should be strengthened through closer unified action.

Over the past year, both bodies have already increased collaboration on several fronts, including clean energy roles, infrastructure projects, skills passporting, and increasing the number of available trainers and assessors. The 2025 review highlighted the critical function these boards serve in addressing workforce requirements but argued they could be more effective as a single body.

Andrew Hockey, CEO of the ECITB, noted that the engineering construction industry (ECI) is projected to require 40,000 additional workers by 2030. He emphasised that any potential structural changes must not interrupt the urgent work of attracting and retaining skilled staff. He also confirmed that the proposal does not impact the ECITB's recent levy consensus vote, with the 2026-28 levy order expected to proceed as planned.

Andrew Hockey, CEO of the ECITB, said: "Construction and engineering construction are critical to meet the Government's missions for growth, good jobs and for the UK to become a clean energy superpower by 2030. We have been working closely with the CITB on a number of workstreams following the ITB Review. This collaboration is important to tackle the common workforce challenges facing our industries. Whatever the outcome of this consultation, it is important the distinct skills and workforce needs of the engineering construction industry (ECI) continue to be supported. Our research forecasts that the ECI will need 40,000 additional workers by 2030. Any changes to how the ITBs are structured should not detract from the urgent need to attract, develop, qualify and retain skilled workers now. The decision to form a single body would only be made following analysis of the consultation and is not yet the final directive. We have started working with the DWP and the CITB to map out how a transition to a single body could be implemented, should this be the final decision. The recommendation to create a single body does not affect the ECITB's recent levy consensus vote. So, we expect that the levy order for 2026-28 will be laid as planned. I am proud of ECITB's track record in supporting our industry and workforce over the past 35 years. We will continue to support the priorities outlined in our strategy over the coming months and beyond and deliver against our industry-backed strategy to ensure engineering construction has the skills both for today and for the future."

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Tim Balcon, CEO of the CITB, highlighted existing joint efforts, such as the strategic skills planning for Sizewell C, where training pathways cover both civil and ECI phases of the project.

Tim Balcon, CEO of the CITB, added: "The Government is committed to getting Britain building again, with a £600m construction skills package announced last year, which CITB contributed to. This is recognition of how vital the construction industry is – not just to the Government's own homebuilding and infrastructure development ambitions, but as a crucial cog in the wider economy. Regardless of the outcome we must continue to work to tackle the joint needs of industry – we need to be providing standardised levels of competence, alternative routes into industry and making it easier to access high-quality training. We have been already working with the ECITB on a number of areas. An example of this is strategic skills planning for Sizewell C. Where we are developing whole-career training pathways and interventions that span both the civil and ECI phases of that project. Nuclear new build is a clear example where both the civil construction workforce and the ECI workforce work alongside each other."

Main photo: Hinkley Point C under construction, courtesy of EDF Energy. Nuclear new build is a clear example where both the civil construction workforce and consequently the ECI workforce work alongside each other.