What help can an employer get with apprentice costs?

The construction industry is facing a significant skills shortage, especially in specialised trades like scaffolding and roofing. By taking advantage of CITB apprenticeship grants, construction companies can affordably invest in upskilling their future workforce. SIMIAN Apprenticeships provide comprehensive, hands-on training that ensures scaffolders and roofers gain the practical skills and experience required for these demanding roles.

Rather than waiting for skilled workers, apprenticeships funded through CITB grants are the most cost-efficient way to develop aspiring scaffolders and roofers.

Travel To Train Grant

CITB helps employers with accommodation and travel costs for each eligible apprentice. Employers can claim back 80% of accommodation costs for an apprentice, where an overnight stay is required. To access this grant, accommodation must be booked through CITB’s website, using a CITB-approved accommodation provider. The grant can also be used for on-campus residential accommodation; employers should contact CITB to find out how to apply.

Help with travel expenses is also available from CITB where the cost exceeds £20 per week, for each eligible apprentice.

How much can you receive from Travel To Train?

CITB will pay a grant when the travel costs are more than £20 per week, they will deduct the first £20 per week and reimburse the excess to the employer.

Private transport is only authorised when public transport, or transport provided by CITB, is not available or private transport is cheaper.

Current mileage rates for private transport are 26p per mile for cars or motorcycles.

The full cost of the travel grant must be reimbursed to the apprentice by the employer.

This grant does not cover car parking costs.

How much can you receive from accommodation grants?

Hotel accommodation is reimbursed at a rate of 80% of the total cost. CITB will deduct 20% of the accommodation cost and reimburse the difference to the employer, the employer must pay the 20% cost and not pass this on to the apprentice. Weekend accommodation is not funded.

Apprenticeship Training Grant

CITB offer grants to support construction companies investing in apprenticeship training. This funding can cover:

Eligibility Requirements:

• You must apply for apprenticeship grants for directly employed individuals only

• The apprenticeship program must be an approved standard

• You must use a provider from the Official Register of Apprenticeship Training Providers

Grant funding can help make apprenticeship training more affordable for your construction company. Develop your future workforce while accessing financial support through the CITB Apprenticeship Grant program.

This funding includes:

£2,500 per year to cover off-the-job attendance costs with an approved provider, up to the maximum duration allowed for that apprenticeship standard. This portion is paid quarterly every 13 weeks.

£3,500 achievement grant paid upon the apprentice’s successful completion of the full apprenticeship program.

Talking to Christian Hatherall – Good, training manager for Lee Marley, we asked him about the CITB incentives for apprenticeships:

The CITB apprenticeship grants, once established, prove to be an invaluable asset. While the initial setup may be time-consuming, it opens doors for smaller companies to offer college-level education to learners—an opportunity that would otherwise be financially out of reach.
This initiative not only determines whether a company can host apprentices but also enables them to increase their numbers. We allocate the grant money towards essential equipment and continuous professional development, investing in our apprentices’ futures to ease their journey.
By covering overnight stays, we ensure better learning outcomes and overall welfare for our learners. In specialized fields like scaffolding, where specific training may require travel, these incentives make the crucial difference between companies being able to offer apprenticeships or not.
It’s a commitment to nurturing talent that’s both helpful and deeply appreciated.”

Talking to Jim Scott, Head of Trainee Recruitment & Development for Alltask, we asked him the following questions about the CITB incentives for apprenticeships:

How easy it is to set up Travel to Train and the grant incentives for your apprentices?

It was very easy for us to set up initally. Our training coordinator who is one of the busiest people in the business set this up and once all aspects were understood, for the travel and booking of receipted approved accommodation, claiming back the money was relatively straight forward.
Under Travel to Train, you cannot claim parking however, our apprentices can leave their cars at LASC and travel one stop on tube for the week.

What difference does it make to your business?

Travel to Train is a great initiative that takes the cost away from the employer and more importantly the individual to access training. We do not expect our apprentices to pay anything towards their travel or accommodation and it means we are only paying 20%, which we fund through the Apprenticeship grant.

What do you use the grant incentive for?

The apprenticeship grant incentive compliments travel to train and reimburses us on the 20% shortfall, plus it helps towards paying a progressive salary structure. We are able to raise Apprenticeship pay as they meet their training milestones and qualifications in line with those gaining their qualifications on our Adult Learning Pathway.
This supports Alltask to offer an attractive pay structure to motivate and retain our scaffolding trainees in the business.

For more information on the CITB grants and other funding available for apprenticeships, please email Sara Calvo on scalvo@simian-risk.com

To find out more about SIMIAN Apprenticeships, click here.