ONLINEMAGAZINEISSUE 9: AUTUMN 2018

Other NewsP.6. New Summer Training CoursesP.7. Qualifying the Existing

WorkforceP.8. Skills NI

ONLINEMAGAZINEISSUE 9: AUTUMN 2018

1

GRANT & LEVYCITB NI have launched their new £1.65m training grants scheme and increased apprentice grants by 30%. This significant investment will help the local construction industry train in order to be safer, more efficient and more effective.

The increased funding offers direct

grants to registered employers for

support in a wide range of training

and qualifications for employees

working in Northern Ireland. The

training is not limited to just the

construction trades. It also includes

Administration, Supervision and

Management training.

· 5200 can be claimed for a fully

employed apprentice over a 3 year

period.

· Increase in the daily grant rate

for a number of other categories

(all details can be found on our

Guide to the Grant Scheme)

Please note: · Grant claims can only be

submitted for employees who

work in Northern Ireland and

declared on the employers Annual

Return Form.

· While we have a cap on Grants for

general training, remember that

this does not apply to Apprentices.

· Deadline for all Levy Return Forms

including the Options and New

Registrations must be adhered to.

Grants cannot be paid if you miss

any deadline.

· All grant claims must be received

by CITB NI within three months

of commencement of training or

upon registration onto course or

apprenticeship scheme, otherwise

grant will be declined.

Employers are encouraged to

make grant claims on line at www.citbni.org.uk

CITB NI 2018/19 Grants Scheme,

Application Form and Terms and

Conditions of Grant are available

on our website www.citbni.org.uk or by contacting a member of our

team on 028 9082 5466 or email

grants@citbni.org.uk

ONLINEMAGAZINEISSUE 9: AUTUMN 2018

2

GRANT & LEVYLevyAll Northern Ireland construction

industry employers are required

by law to register with CITB NI.

Registered CITB NI employers are

also obliged by law to complete

annually the levy Return form which

is issued in July each year or upon

initial registration.

The CITB NI levy means that

all employers in the industry

make the appropriate financial

contributions based on the annual

levy rate of the wage bills (i.e. gross

payments to PAYE employees and

gross payments to labour only

subcontractor payments) for work

in Northern Ireland.

If your wages bill is greater or equal

to £80,000 levy is payable on the

gross emoluments at 0.60% and

if below £80,000 you will not be

liable to pay a levy but must still

complete the Annual Return Form

allowing you to benefit from CITB NI

including our grant scheme.

Should I be Registered? If you can answer YES to the

following questions you should be

registered with CITB NI.

1. Are you working in the

construction industry in Northern

Ireland*?

2. Are you an employer?

3. Are you working in Northern

Ireland for 27 or more weeks in

relevant tax year?

* activities of the construction

industry are defined within

Schedule 1 of the Industrial

Training Board Order 1964.

As a registered construction

employer you will gain access to the

following benefits:

- Training Grants for you and your

Team

- Training through our Mobile

Training Unit and scaffolding

facility

- Training support at employer

information events and through

our online training directory

- Training Research for accurate,

current and forward looking labour

market intelligence

- Careers information through our

website and careers events.

Register now and download the

Return form or contact CITB NI

on 028 9082 5466 for further

information.

ONLINEMAGAZINEISSUE 9: AUTUMN 2018

3

CITB NI TRAINING SCAFFOLDINGWe provide the CISRS scaffolding

training courses at Nutts Corner

Training Centre. These courses

include a five-day Basic Access

Systems Erector Course (BASE)

and a three-day Tube & Fitting

Basic Scaffold Inspection course.

On successful completion of

these courses the relevant CISRS

Scaffolding card will be issued.

These courses run alongside the

existing CISRS programme of CISRS

Operative Training Scheme (COTS),

Scaffolding Part One, Part Two

and Advanced courses working

towards achievement of an NVQ

and obtaining a Scaffolding or

Advanced Scaffolding Card. The

CISRS 2 Day Refreshers Course

(CPD) This course is for people

looking to renew a CISRS Scaffolder

card (blue) and a CISRS Advanced

Scaffolder card (gold).

This course will refresh your existing

knowledge, make you fully aware

of changes in legislation and

good working practices, to align

your skill-set with the contents of

current CISRS Scaffolder/Advanced

Scaffolder Courses.

For more information on courses,

contact gillian.watt@citbni.org.uk, Tel: 028 9082 5466.

Too busy to leave your site? Let the Mobile Training Unit come to youAs long as you are based in

Northern Ireland, the Mobile

Training Unit (MTU) can come to

you and provide short duration

health and safety courses such

as confined spaces, excavations,

manual handling and working at

heights, encouraging the industry to

build safely.

The MTU provides training on site to

all registered in-scope construction

employers. It is a convenient way of

meeting training requirements with

minimum disruption to site work

whilst also helping employers meet

their legal responsibility.

Registered in-scope levy paying

employers can book the Mobile

Training Unit free of charge.

Booking is easy, you can contact

us on 028 9082 5466 and we

can facilitate your booking and

answer any queries you have,

alternatively you can email on

gillian.watt@citbni.org.uk.

ONLINEMAGAZINEISSUE 9: AUTUMN 2018

4

Virtual Environment Training – VET360 CITB NI’s innovative VET360

provides a unique and memorable

immersive experience which

gives the user instant access to

construction sites in a workplace

environment. Used as a training

tool VET360 allows the user to

experience being onsite within

a safe training environment. The

facility allows the user to see more,

save time and stay safe as VET360

is the perfect bridge between

theoretical classroom training

and the reality of a busy

construction site.

Interested in experiencing VET360

and seeing how it could transform

your training? Contact Lorraine Fisher 028 9082 4202 email:

lorraine.fisher@citbni.org.uk for

more information.

CITB NI TRAINING

ONLINEMAGAZINEISSUE 9: AUTUMN 2018

5

CITB NI TRAININGTopics Date Venue Click link below to Book

Introductory Digital Marketing & Social Media Workshop Wednesday, 24 October 2018 Newcastle BOOK NOW

GDPR and Cyber Security Awareness Training Wednesday, 21 November 2018 Portadown BOOK NOW

Advanced Digital Marketing & Social Media Workshop Wednesday, 16 January 2019 Belfast BOOK NOW

Recruiting Apprentices & Training Needs Analysis (for CITB NI Registered Employers only) Wednesday, 30 January 2019 Derry/Londonderry BOOK NOW

Advanced Tendering - in Public Sector Construction* Wednesday, 6 February 2019 Cookstown BOOK NOW £25*

Introductory Digital Marketing & Social Media Workshop Wednesday, 27 February 2019 Coleraine BOOK NOW

GDPR and Cyber Security Awareness Training Wednesday, 13 March 2019 Ballymena BOOK NOW

Tendering in the Public Sector Construction Market Workshop Wednesday, 27 March 2019 Belfast BOOK NOW £25*

Recruiting Apprentices & Training Needs Analysis (for CITB NI Registered Employers only) Wednesday, 10 April 2019 Omagh BOOK NOW

Advanced Tendering - In Public Sector Construction Wednesday, 8 May 2019 Portadown BOOK NOW £25*

Advanced Digital Marketing & Social Media Workshop Wednesday, 29 May 2019 Derry/Londonderry BOOK NOW

Business Improvement Seminars 2018/2019CITB NI has launched their business

improvement seminars and

workshops for the next 12 months

to help local construction employers

develop skills in key business areas.

Topics include digital marketing

for beginners and advanced users,

GDPR, Tendering and Training Needs

Analysis.

The seminars are held in local towns

and cities across Northern Ireland

to ensure convenience for all and

employers also get a chance to hear

the latest information on CITB NI

training initiatives, grants and funding.

Led by industry experts, the Business

Improvement Seminars are both

informal and easy to book and we

encourage employers to attend.

For more information log on to

http://www.citbni.org.uk/Events.aspx

ONLINEMAGAZINEISSUE 9: AUTUMN 2018

6

CITB NI TRAINING Mates in Mind SuccessOver the past few months CITB

NI and Mates in Mind have been

working in partnership to deliver

a series of educational sessions to

help raise awareness and address

the stigma of poor mental health.

These sessions have been positively

received within the industry and

over 321 to date have attended

and received information, tools

and techniques to spot the signs of

poor mental health and know how

to act as a guide towards getting

appropriate support for themselves

and their colleagues.

Further sessions will be available

later in the year for more

information contact Lorraine

Fisher 028 90 824202 email: Lorraine.fisher@citbni.org.uk

General Construction Operative Training ProgrammeCITB NI has launched a free

programme to train 15 new or

existing construction site operatives

which will help:

· Develop a skilled pool of labour –

prepared for work

· Employers fill skills gaps and

shortages

· Make recruiting new staff easier

and simpler

The programme will provide training

in 25 skill areas over 3 modules

essential for the competent site

operative.

Topics include:

· Health and Safety

· Construction plant training

· Basic work platforms

· Ground works

This programme will help new

participants

· get a step into the industry

· develop and fine tune skills

· gain potential employment

Employers who agree to participate

in the programme will receive free

publicity and acknowledgement.

Commitment to supporting

the programme is easy; all that

is required is for you to agree

to interview the programme

participants at the completion of

the training with a view to potential

employment.

This programme is FREE to those

selected to participate, including

those who are unemployed.

For further information contact

Gillian Watt Tel 028 90824205

Email: gco@citbni.org.uk

ONLINEMAGAZINEISSUE 9: AUTUMN 2018

7

OTHER NEWSCITB NI & Radius Housing launch Apprenticeship Endeavour AwardCITB NI and Radius Housing are

working in partnership to award

£500 to a construction craft

apprentice who has overcome a

significant adversity to allow them

to successfully complete their

training programme and achieve a

construction qualification at NVQ

Level 2 or Level 3.

The Apprenticeship Endeavour

Award applies to those who

undertook their training between

September 2016 & August 2018. The

competition will be open for entries

from Monday, 1st October 2018

and will close on Wednesday, 19th

December 2018.

Barry Neilson, Chief Executive,

CITB NI said, “We are delighted

to be working in partnership with

Radius Housing to recognise an

apprentice’s journey, against all

odds, to continue their education

and achieve a construction

qualification. We want to

acknowledge an apprentice who

hasn’t given up despite difficulties

and reward them for their

determination and achievements.

Individuals can apply directly or be

nominated by a third party.”

John McLean, Chief Executive,

Radius Housing said, “As a leading

social enterprise involved in housing

care and support to over 33,000

homes across Northern Ireland

we are delighted to be partnering

with CITB NI in this new initiative

and providing the £500 award.

Many construction apprentices

have worked on our social housing

developments and we understand

the needs, demands and challenges

faced within the sector.”

The winner will be presented with

the award at the Skillbuild NI Finals

on Friday 22nd March 2019 at

Belfast Metropolitan College.

To be eligible, all applicants and

those nominated for the award are

asked to agree to the Terms and

Conditions of the award which can

be found here.

Application Forms for further

information can be found on

http://www.citbni.org.uk/Endeavour-Award.aspx

Pictured are (L-R) Barry Neilson, Chief Executive CITB NI and John McLean, Chief Executive Radius Housing launching the Apprenticeship Endeavour Award 2018

ONLINEMAGAZINEISSUE 9: AUTUMN 2018

8

OTHER NEWSCITB NI build on their apprenticeship success to get more young people employed in the industryAdditional grant funding,

information and guidance from CITB

NI resulted in 103 new apprentices

joining the construction industry

last year. Encouraged by its

success, and given the need for

the industry to recruit and train

apprentices, CITB NI will further

enhance the grant funding by 30%

to help encourage more young

people to join the industry and more

employers to support them.

Skills shortages and an aging

workforce are putting the industry

at risk in particular in trade areas

such as brick laying, joinery and

roofing. CITB NI has enhanced

apprenticeship grants available

to CITB NI registered employers

meaning that an employer can

gain £5200 during the 3 year

cycle of training an apprentice

plus an additional £1500 from the

Department for the Economy for

employers who take on apprentices

from the very start right through to

completion of NVQ Level 2 and 3.

For more information on

this initiative log on to

http://www.citbni.org.uk/Apprenticeships.aspx

CLICK HERETO DOWNLOAD ALL THE LATEST GUIDANCE

FOR CONSTRUCTION APPRENTICESHIPS FOR EMPLOYERS FOR ALL THE LATEST

INFORMATION

Horizon 2020 BIMcert Project CITB NI are one of seven European

Partners across five countries (e.g.

Portugal, Croatia, Macedonia, Ireland

and UK) who have secured €1.25

million (Euros) European funding

through Horizon 2020.

The project is known as BIMcert and

aims to provide a comprehensive

BIM (Building Information

Modelling) training and qualification

scheme for all levels of the

construction supply chain.

A European survey has been

conducted by CITB NI, as part of

the Belfast Met led Horizon 2020

BIMcert project, has shown that two

thirds of construction companies

are planning to implement BIM

within the next 3 years, highlighting

the increasing need for companies

to adopt and invest in BIM

technology and processes.

To find out more and keep up

to date on the project, visit

the CITB NI website under

‘Other Funded Projects’.

ONLINEMAGAZINEISSUE 9: AUTUMN 2018

9

OTHER NEWSGCSE Construction Book helps pupils build for the futureCITB NI has launched a newly

revised textbook to support the

delivery of GCSE in Construction

and the Built Environment

qualification and is providing 25

complimentary copies to each

of the 47 schools that teach the

subject.

The GCSE in Construction and the

Built Environment provides students

with a realistic understanding and

experience of modern day practices

in the construction industry and

helps develop their knowledge

of the construction industry

and the built environment. The

textbook contains all the essential

underpinning knowledge required

of a student who has never studied

construction before and who

wishes to explore the subject for

the first time and has been updated

to reflect the changes in the

specification.

Barry Neilson, Chief Executive,

CITB NI said, “Construction is a

rewarding industry with a variety

of opportunities on offer from

project management to onsite

roles with prospects for career

enhancement and good earning

potential. The popularity of the

subject is growing and almost 8000

pupils have undertaken the exam

since its launch in 2005. We are

aware of the pressure on school

budgets and are delighted to

present 25 complimentary books

to each school providing GCSE

in Construction each year for the

next four years. This will provide

students with effective support

material for the subject and may

be a potential stepping stone in the

right direction for a future career in

construction. CITB NI also provides

an annual bursary to the top three

achieving students who excel in the

subject and are acknowledged for

their hard work and achievements.

The numbers studying GCSE in

Construction is steadily increasing

and last year 763 pupils studied this

subject of which 7% are female, this

is the largest number of students

since the GCSE became available

in 2005.”

Mrs Keyes and Year 11 GCSE Construction students from CBS Omagh receiving their GCSE textbooks from Amanda Stevenson CITB NI.

ONLINEMAGAZINEISSUE 9: AUTUMN 2018

10

INDUSTRY REPORTS An update of Northern Ireland

(NI) Construction Industry

Performance Indicators

(Issue 13 – September 2018).

Construction Employment· Construction employment in

Northern Ireland is expected to

decline at an annual average

rate of -0.4% over the forecast

period. The average annual UK

rate remains positive at +0.5%.

Employment is projected to reach

around 61,770 in 2022, having

peaked at 63,500 in 20191.

· The NI industry will have to

recruit an average of 310 new

employees each year to realise

forecasted construction output,

with the annual requirement

highest for bricklayers (80), other

construction process managers

(50) and other construction

professionals and technical

staff (50)2.

· Skills shortages were ranked the

third most challenging business

issue for respondents to the RICS

UK Construction and Infrastructure

Survey Q2 2018. Professional

services, in particular quantity

surveyors, were most in demand3.

The FMB State of Trade survey

showed a continuing trend of

high demand for bricklayers and

carpenters with 65% and 60% of

employers respectively indicating

shortages in these areas4.

Annual Average Output Growth by Region 2018-2022 - Northern Ireland

North East-2.0%

-1.0%

-0.0%

1.0%

UK Average

Source: CSN, Experian. Ref: CSN Explained

Annu

al %

gro

wth

out

put

2.0%

4.0%

3.0%

5.0%

Yorkshireand

Humber

East Midlands

GreaterLondon

SouthEast

SouthWest

Wales WestMidlands

NorthernIreland

NorthWest

ScotlandEast of England

1 Industry Insights Report for NI 2018-2022, Construction Skills Network2 Industry Insights Report for NI 2018-2022, Construction Skills Network3 RICS UK Construction and Infrastructure Survey Q2 2018, published July 20184 FMB State of Trade Survey Report, Q2 2018

ONLINEMAGAZINEISSUE 9: AUTUMN 2018

11

INDUSTRY REPORTS Construction Output· The total volume of construction

output in the first quarter of 2018

was 6.5% lower than Q4 2018 and

6.1% lower than the same quarter

in the previous year5. The decrease

can be explained by an 11.8%

reduction in Repair & Maintenance

and a 6.7% reduction in New Work.

· Construction output growth in

Northern Ireland is projected to

average 0.5% a year over the 2018

to 2022 period, a slower growth

rate than across the UK as a whole

(1.3%). However, output is expected

to sustain a level not far short

of £3bn (2015 prices) during the

forecast period, not seen since the

2008/09 recession. The sectors

expected to expand are housing

(public and private) and repair and

maintenance (R&M)6.

800

750

700

650

600

550

500

450

400Outp

ut N

I (20

15 p

rices

, sea

sona

lly a

djus

ted)

Value of Construction Output in NI

Q1’1

3

Q2’1

3

Q3’1

3

Q4’1

3

Q1’1

4

Q2’1

4

Q3’1

4

Q4’1

4

Q1’1

5

Q2’1

5

Q3’1

5

Q4’1

5

Q1’1

6

Q2’1

6

Q3’1

6

Q4’1

6

Q1’1

7

Q2’1

7

Q3’1

7

Q4’1

7

Q4’1

7

Source: CSN, Experian. Ref: CSN Explained

5 NI Construction Bulletin, Q1 2018, Department of Finance, published 19/07/186 Industry Insights Report for NI 2018-2022, Construction Skills Network

ONLINEMAGAZINEISSUE 9: AUTUMN 2018

12

State of Trade· The FMB’s State of Trade Survey

for Q2 2018 confirmed that activity

across the UK increased at slightly

higher rate in Q2 2018 than in

Q1 2018. This means that SMEs

have experienced a growth in

workload for the last 21 quarters

consecutively. Seventy six percent

of builders expect material prices

to rise in the next 6 months and

54% of SMEs envisage wage

increases over the same period.

The report also shows that NI’s

net balance7 has increased by 21

percentage points from +26 in Q1

2018 to +47 in Q2 20188.

INDUSTRY REPORTS · The Q2 2018 RICS UK Construction

and Infrastructure Market Survey

shows a decrease in the rate of

output growth with a net balance

of 15% of survey respondents

reporting increased workloads

compared to 23% in the previous

quarter9. Private industrial and

housing show the sharpest

slowdown. Rail, roads and energy

are expected to see the greatest

levels of growth going forward.

60

70

80

50

40

30

20

10

0

-10

-20

Net B

alan

ce %

UK

NI

Q1’2

016

Q2’2

016

Q3’2

016

Q4’2

016

Q1’2

017

Q2’2

017

Q3’2

017

Q4’2

017

Q1’2

018

Q2’2

018

FMB State of Trade Survey Net Balance Results, 2016-2018

Source: FMB State of Trade Report, Q2 2018

7 Based on a composite indicator combining workload, expected workload & enquiries questions, weighted by the firms’ size. The net balance shows the difference between those saying higher & those saying lower for the three questions.

8 FMB State of Trade Survey Report, Q2 20189 RICS UK Construction and Infrastructure Market Survey, Q2 2018, published

July 2018

ONLINEMAGAZINEISSUE 9: AUTUMN 2018

13

New House Prices and SalesThe total number of NI residential

property sales in 2017 (Q1-Q4)

stood at 23,989, a 4% decrease on

the same period in 2016 (23,038).

In terms of new house sales, for the

period Apr 17 – Mar 18, there were

1,394 sales, an increase of 15% on

the figure from the same period the

previous year (1,216)10.

The number of new dwelling starts

(both private and social) declined in

Apr 17 – Mar 18, from 7,727 in Apr 16

– Mar 17, to 7,519, a 3% decrease11.

The average price of a new dwelling

in NI in 2017/18 stood at £163,900,

identical to the level in 2010/11,

when the figure was last as high12.

For further information contact

Karen Hunter at CITB NI via e-mail karen.hunter@citbni.org.uk or

telephone 028 9082 4233.

£154,000

£156,000

£158,000

£160,000

£162,000

£164,000

£166,000

18,000

19,000

20,000

21,000

22,000

23,000

24,000

25,000

26,000

No. o

f Res

iden

tial P

rope

rty S

ales

NI Residential Property Sales & New Dwelling Prices

Aver

age

New

Dw

ellin

g Pr

ice

2015/16 2016/17 2017/18

Average Price (£)Total ResidentialProperty Sales

10 NI Housing Bulletin, NISRA, Jan – Mar 2018, published 07/08/1811 NI Housing Bulletin, NISRA, Jan – Mar 2018, published 07/08/1812 NI Housing Bulletin, NISRA, Jan – Mar 2018, published 07/08/18

INDUSTRY REPORTS

Source: NI Housing Bulletin, NISRA, Jan - Mar 2018, published 07/08/18