Contractors surprised by decision to close Skills & Training fund, 14 plumbers and heating engineers make Tradesperson of the Year semi-final and Transit celebrates 60th birthday
Contractors have been blindsided by the CITB’s decision to close the Skills & Training scheme.
The S&T fund covered 100% of training costs for smaller contractors up to £10,000 and could be applied for twice a year.
The training board said it closed the S&T fund because it overlaps with its Employer Networks programme.
However, Employers Networks reimburses just 70% of training costs and is limited to £15,000 per company.
A CITB spokesperson said it was “changing the way funding is accessed, which will enable us to support more employers”.
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Plumbing and heating engineers have dominated this year’s Screwfix Tradesperson of the Year semi-finals. In total 14 engineers have made the semis, where they will compete against other tradespeople for 10 places in the final.
The eventual winner will pick up a prize bundle worth £20,000, consisting of tools, technology and training.
The finals will take place at Screwfix Live in September.
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The Ford Transit celebrated its 60th birthday this month.
On its launch, the van’s spacious interior and speed, rapidly made it a favourite for tradespeople, builders, touring rock bands like Black Sabbath and Led Zeppelin and criminals.
At one time in the early 1970s, the Metropolitan Police estimated the Transit was used in 95% of bank robberies, leading one officer to quip it was "Britain's most wanted van.”
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