APRIL 2024 LEICESTERSHIRE BUILDER MAGAZINE online

26 Leicestershire BUILDER Magazine • APRIL 2024 • Tel: 01530 244069 • Email: info@buildermagazines.co.uk
CITB sitting on
£100m cash pile
CONSTRUCTION training
body CITB is sitting on a
£100m cash pile despite
the industry’s ongoing skills
crisis.
The £102.6m of current assets in
the bank are detailed in the CITB’s
latest set of accounts for the year
to March 31 2023 which were
published recently.
The training body is funded mainly
be levy income from contractors
which hit £170.6m last year as the
organisation handed back £85.3m
in grants.
CITB chiefs said the accumulation
of funds was due to contractors
being “focussed on areas other
than training.”
A CITB spokesperson said: “As
a result of the pandemic CITB has
seen its reserves grow and this
trend continued into 2022/23 where
the economic backdrop impacted
training uptake.
“Understandably employers have
been focused on navigating and
then on recovering following the
pandemic. It has taken time for the
construction sector to recover from
the impact of the pandemic and
have been battling the challenging
economic situation.
“This has meant that many
employers have been focussed on
areas other than training. We are
now seeing the demand for training
and claims for grant increase.
“We aim to halve our reserves
by the end of the financial year
2026/27 and details of this will
be detailed within our business
plan and strategy. But our plans
include bold investments in our
National Construction College
estate as well as the full rollout of
Employer Networks that will enable
employers to have a greater say
in the training provided within their
regions.”
The accounts also show that staff
costs at the CITB rose to £37m
from £33m last time with 660
people directly employed by the
CITB with 79 staff earning more
than £60,000 a year.
Positive signs
on the horizon
for small
builders, says
FMB
THE 1.1% GROWTH in
construction is welcome
news after the 0.9% fall in
construction output in the
three months to January
2024, says the Federation
of Master Builders (FMB) in
response to newly released
data from the Office for
National Statistics (ONS)
Brian Berry, Chief Executive of
the FMB, said: “The continued
decline in new building work in
the three months to January
is deeply concerning, with an
overall decrease in output for the
industry being seen. However,
there is positive news for small,
local builders, as the figures show
positive growth for the repair,
maintenance and improvement
sector, which increased by 4%.
Worryingly, the new work from
private housing saw a fall of 5.2%.
With the country going through a
housing crisis, last week’s Spring
Budget was a missed opportunity to
boost housing output.”
Berry continued: “The construction
industry has had a tough time but
the 1.1% increase in growth for
January suggests a more promising
future for 2024. It’s encouraging
for small building companies that
repair and maintenance work is
accounting for much of the positive
growth. SME builders have kept
the industry going during this tough
time and are well placed to boost
economic growth if the barriers they
face building more homes could be
reduced.”
Berry concluded: “As we approach
the General Election the political
parties should be supporting the
building industry to build more
homes and improve the ones we
have as the best means to help
turbo charge the economy in the
years ahead.”
News from NCHA
Sileby Open Day
NOTTINGHAM Community Housing Association are holding
an open day for potential home buyers in Sileby in April.
The development will offer 33 affordable homes for rent and 22 to buy
through shared ownership. Giving local people the opportunity to take their
first step onto the property ladder.
Keely Hedley, Senior Sales Negotiator at NCHA, said: “Potential buyers
looking to find out more about these new homes are invited to visit the
development on Saturday 13th April.
“The team will be available from 11am to 2pm. Visitors will have the
chance to take a look inside the last few homes that are available to buy
with the help of shared ownership and ask questions.”
• Date: Saturday 13 April
• Time: 11am to 2pm - just drop in, no appointment
necessary
• Location: 41 Homefield Road, Sileby, LE12 7WT
The 55-home development off Homefield Road which has fantastic views
over the Soar Valley is due for completion this month.
All of the new homes have been designed by RG+P architects to EPC
A standard, the best standard in energy efficiency, making them more
affordable to heat and run.
Plot for sale in Naseby
O’RIORDAN BOND Sales & Lettings
are offering for sale a building plot
with full planning permission for a
three-bedroom detached house in
the historic village of Naseby.
The plot – at Church Street, Naseby,
Northants. NN6 6DA – is being offered for
sale at a guide price of £170,000.
For more information, contact O’Riordan
Bond Brixworth Sales on 01604 880077 or
email: brixworth@oriordanbond.co.uk
91 Church Street
Naseby, Northamptonshire
I saw a kid earlier with a hairy face and horrible beady eyes. Saying that, I suppose it’s normal for a goat.