CITB Funding
On the 8th January 2026, how CITB fund training has changed. Visit CITB’s Grants & Funding changes page to understand what’s new and how to book support.
Plant Standards and Grants
The Construction Industry Training Board (CITB) has introduced significant changes to its grants and funding offer, which came into effect on 8 January 2026. These changes represent a major shift in how financial support for training is delivered to UK construction employers and aim to ensure training support remains sustainable and impactful as demand increases
Which courses are covered for grant?
CITB pay grant for completion of the following short courses (which are at least 3 hours in duration) and CPCS tests. CITB only pay grant once for each individual per course, unless a standard specifies a renewal or refresher is required.
Grant is available for:-
- Excavator 360, above 10 tonnes (tracked)
- Forward tipping dumper (wheeled)
- Rear tipping dumper/dump truck: articulated chassis (all sizes)
- Ride on roller
- Telescopic handler: all sizes excluding 360 slew
- Industrial forklift
- Plant and Vehicle Marshaller
- Slinger, Signaller: all types, all duties.
Alongside the new standards, the grant rates for plant training and tests will also be changed and improved. Currently, three smaller grants are available for practical test, theory test and short course training, which employers can apply in different ways. Under the new changes a single grant will be available for all CITB registered employers.
For New Plant Standards and Grants you can download the Plant Categories Here
CITB Grants have changed, They will now pay 50% of the Training cost. This will be paid direct to the Levy Paying Customer
How to apply
If you use an Approved Training Organisation (ATO) or Training Provider Network (TPN) member Like Vally Plant Training
When you book your training please ensure you supply Vally Plant Training with the learner’s details, including their National Insurance number as well as your 7-digit CITB registration number.
When an individual has achieved the course, Vally Plant Training will update CITB within 10 working days. CITB will then enter the achievement on the Construction Training Register and processes the automated grant application.
Please contact CITB’s Customer Services team on 0344 994 4455 if your payment is not received within one month of achieving the course.
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What this means for employers
The new standards affect Twelve of the most commonly used plant categories. In order to be grant eligible, the training and testing for these eight categories will have to:
- Meet our new standards
- Lead to a card carrying the CSCS logo, and
- Be delivered by an Approved Training Organisations (Vally Plant Training Ltd).
From 8th January you will need to use an Approved Training Provider Network member (TPN) and provide your CITB registration number, so that we can apply for the grant on your behalf. The option to apply for these grants manually will not be available for these standards.
Any other plant training that is separate from the new standards will remain eligible for grant and you will apply for the grant in the same way you currently apply.(see below)
New grant rates
For those who require some training before taking a test, CITB have introduced 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 trained by Vally Plant Training.
Tier 1
- New Novice Rate: £550
- New Experienced Rate: £250
Tier 2
- New Novice Rate: £630
- New Experienced Rate: £300
Tier 3
- New Novice Rate: £880
- New Experienced Rate: £470
For employers
To be grant eligible, training and testing for plant categories where there is a new standard must:
- Meet our new standards
- Lead to a card carrying the CSCS logo, and
- Be delivered by an Approved Training Organisation (ATO) or Training Provider Network (TPN) .
To receive grant, you must use an Approved Training Provider Network (TPN) member and provide your CITB registration number, so that they can apply for the grant on your behalf.
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