BSRIA says that it sees the Government’s new apprenticeship levy as an incentive for both the CITB, industry and government to work together on delivering vital apprenticeship training.

The CITB and the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills have reached an agreement through which companies with a payroll of more than £3m pay both the CITB levy and the Government’s all-industry apprenticeship levy, which will come into effect from April 2017. Just over 900 firms – across 500 groups – will be affected by the changes, which will see firms pay both levies for at least a year, while a consultation across the construction sector is carried out on what a new CITB levy will look like from 2018.

Firms affected will only have to pay the two levies on the portion of their payroll above £3m. Companies with a payroll below £3m will be unaffected by the changes.

BSRIA chief executive Julia Evans said: “It’s good that government and the CITB have found a compromise on the financial mechanics of delivering apprenticeships. Now BSRIA members, industry and government can work together to deliver fundamental training especially to meet the increase in resource required by the industry.”

Full details of how the double levy system will work will be announced in early July.

Members were asked to respond to a government consultation regarding the introduction of a new apprenticeship levy in September and October 2015.