CITB moves to DWP in skills policy realignment

Control over the Construction Industry Training Board (CITB) has moved from the Department for Education (DfE) to the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP).

Construction News understands that the transfer of departmental sponsorship formed part of changes to skills administration announced by prime minister Keir Starmer on 16 September.

Although CITB was not mentioned explicitly by Starmer in his speech, sources have revealed that the body and its sister organisation, the Engineering Construction Industry Training Board (ECITB), will now answer to the DWP.

The move ends nine years of sponsorship by the DfE and places the two statutory training bodies directly within the department focused on employability, economic inactivity and labour market reform.

A source told CN: “They’ve sat a bit awkwardly in DfE. This puts them closer to the labour market, employment policy and workforce reform.”

The source confirmed that relevant civil servants will also transfer. “There will be people who currently work in the Department for Education who will move to the Department for Work and Pensions to continue that work on CITB and ECITB,” they said.

“Rather than having CITB and ECITB sat slightly outside the system, they’re now being brought inside the system in terms of policy thinking and that’s what this change reflects.”

Starmer’s announcement confirmed that Jacqui Smith had been appointed minister of state for skills with responsibilities spanning both the DWP and DfE.

She retains her role as minister for women and equalities.

Her dual role is intended to coordinate skills and post-16 education more effectively with employment policy.

Smith will now oversee further and higher education in the DfE while leading the skills brief within DWP.

Responsibility for higher education, and further education, skills, training and careers for those aged 19 years and under will remain with the DfE.

The CITB and ECITB are non-departmental public bodies with statutory responsibilities for workforce development in construction and engineering construction respectively.

They run levy systems and fund training across their sectors.

Sponsorship of CITB and ECITB moved from the Department of Business, Innovation and Skills to the Department for Education in July 2016.