CITB launches building safety project to upskill façade workers

The Construction Industry Training Board (CITB) has launched a £250,000 project to upskill 100 rainscreen façade installers and 24 supervisors over two years. 

Wigan-based 3B Training Ltd, part of Morson Group, won the contract to deliver the pilot across England, Scotland and Wales.

The move follows Government efforts to speed up building safety work after the Grenfell Tower Public Inquiry. 

CITB has worked with employers and the Government to update training for façade inspection and installation, aiming to meet tougher fire safety standards. 

The project will give installers and supervisors set training pathways to help meet Government targets for removing unsafe materials and fitting compliant rainscreen systems on high-risk buildings.

Tim Balcon, CEO at CITB, said: “People across the country need to feel assured that we have a competent and skilled workforce to deliver the urgently required remediation works to prevent tragedies like the Grenfell Tower fire from happening again. 

“Our research shows investment is needed to ensure we have the capability and competency, so we’re working with Governments, industry, and the Construction Leadership Council to publish these new standards for training providers across the country and increase the number of competent installers and supervisors as quickly as possible.”

A spokesperson for the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) said: “We’re proud to support CITB and the Industry Competence Steering Group in launching an innovative short course training programme. 

“This initiative aims to increase the number of qualified façade installers and site supervisors, ensuring the industry has the capacity and capability to meet the targets set by the Remediation Acceleration Plan. 

“We encourage industry stakeholders to take advantage of this training opportunity to support the Government’s ambition of making buildings safer.”

Mathew Bewley, managing director at 3B Training Ltd, said: “One of the key recommendations from the Grenfell Tower Public Inquiry was that installers of cladding systems undergo mandatory standardised training. 

“Along with being appointed to deliver this training, we will also assemble a steering group of experts to help define the course content. 

“It is a source of both enormous pride and responsibility to deliver this work which will fulfil this recommendation and help to ensure that a tragedy like Grenfell cannot happen again.”