The Construction Industry Training Board (CITB) has suspended the issue of its levy bills, due for payment in 2020, for an initial period of three months. 

The bills will subsequently be issued for the full year, and the CITB says the delay will provide immediate financial relief to construction employers during the coronavirus crisis. 

In normal times CITB assesses and sends out levy bills each April in accordance with legal requirements. CITB levy bills are usually due for payment in May, but CITB will not seek collection on the suspended bills until August, or later if possible.

Sarah Beale, CITB chief executive, said, “Everyone in construction is facing extreme pressure at the moment and it’s right that we provide the financial relief we can to protect employers and ensure that the industry is as prepared as possible for the economic recovery that will come when the crisis lifts.

“CITB is reviewing all of its work to respond to the rapidly changing skills needs of industry. We are continuing to re-evaluate our services, funding and grants to adapt them to meet industry’s changing priority needs.”

CITB says it will provide employers with further detail as soon as it can, and that although all levy bills raised before 2020 should have been paid by this point, employers in arrears should contact CITB to discuss payment options.

CITB is also talking now to the UK government to influence support for the construction industry, including seeking a financial grant for its work building critical industry skills.