Countdown to CITB Consensus

CITB has confirmed it will begin engaging with the industry in September on the Levy arrangements for 2026 – 2029, ahead of the formal Consensus process which will take place in spring 2025. The initial engagement will seek feedback on draft Levy proposals, as well as the skills and training outcomes that CITB has delivered for the industry over the past three years. This feedback will be used to provide guidance and recommendations to the CITB Board, which will finalise the Levy proposals for in-scope employers to vote on during Consensus. For the Levy to continue for another three years, the Secretary of State will have to be satisfied that it is necessary to encourage adequate training in the industry.

As a ‘Prescribed Organisation’, Build UK is responsible for consulting with its in-scope members on the Levy proposals during the Consensus process, and we will shortly be in contact to confirm the details of your nominated Levy representative.

Transforming PQ

The CLC has welcomed the latest version of the Common Assessment Standard, which includes a new Building Safety section. As part of its Building Safety workstream, the CLC aims to drive industry competence through the development of standards such as the Common Assessment Standard, which can be used to demonstrate companies have the ‘organisational capability’ to fulfil their roles under the Building Safety Act.

Construction Minister

Sarah Jones MP, who is Minister of State at the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero, and the Department for Business and Trade, has been confirmed as the new Co‐Chair of the CLC alongside Mark Reynolds. With Government prioritising the delivery of homes and infrastructure, Build UK members can continue to provide a collective voice for construction by emailing Build UK and requesting to join the CLC’s regular industry calls.

Constructing the Gold Standard

Build UK Client member SCAPE Group has become one of the first public sector frameworks to be verified as compliant with the ‘Gold Standard’ set out in the Construction Playbook. The Constructing the Gold Standard Verification Scheme confirms whether framework providers comply with the recommendations made in the report published by Professor David Mosey in 2021, providing a mark of quality for clients who use the frameworks as well as suppliers who bid for them. With the Gold Standard designed to drive consistency and improve value, SCAPE has highlighted how verification “demonstrates [its] commitment to maintaining the highest standards in public procurement and framework operation”.

There are currently four Gold Standard verified organisations, and other public sector bodies can complete this application form to register their interest in joining the scheme.