Roofing and scaffolding training specialist SIMIAN is among successful applicants for funding intended to reduce training barriers in specialist trades.
Applications and awards
The Construction Industry Training Board (CITB) announced the awards on 28 September 2026, according to Roofing Today. Applications had opened earlier in the year. CITB said the invitation had attracted a strong response from applicants.
The funded organisations will help employers arrange training to develop competence in their trades. Their remit also includes encouraging workers to take sector-specific National Vocational Qualifications (NVQs), linking the programme to recognised qualifications in the construction trades it covers.
Support for employers
CITB said the organisations would provide training support and guidance to employers within their respective sectors. It described access to good-quality training at an affordable cost as part of the programme’s purpose.
The support is intended to address identified skills shortages, with heritage crafts and retrofit among the areas highlighted in the announcement. Employers seeking further information about the funded work were directed to the Funded Projects Library.
Questions readers are asking
- What is the CITB Specialist Upskilling Fund?
- It is a fund intended to reduce barriers to training in specialist construction trades, including roofing.
- Did SIMIAN receive funding?
- Yes. Roofing Today reported that SIMIAN, a roofing and scaffolding training specialist, was among the successful applicants.
- When were the successful applicants announced?
- CITB announced the successful applicants on 28 September 2026, following a call for applications earlier that year.
- What help will employers get?
- The funded organisations will provide training support and guidance, help employers access competence training and encourage uptake of sector-specific NVQs.
- Which skills shortages will the fund address?
- The announcement highlighted heritage crafts and retrofit among the areas where the support is intended to address skills shortages.
- Where can I find more information about the projects?
- The announcement directed employers to the Funded Projects Library for further information.
