NEWS OF THE WITHDRAWAL of Specialist Applied-Skills Programme funding for roofing apprenticeships in South Wales emerged on Thursday 10 March.

CITB has responded to the story, saying the Wales National Roofing Training Group (WNRTG) was first notified of its decision to withdraw SAP funding two years ago – although it agreed an extension until 31 March 2023.

CITB is planning to fund roofing apprenticeship places in South Wales further education colleges, but the training courses are not yet in existence. In practice their development remains conditional on sufficient numbers of construction students choosing a roofing option next year.

CITB Response

Julia Stevens, CITB Engagement Director for Wales, said: “The Welsh Government apprenticeship framework for roof slating and tiling has been developed via a partnership between CITB, Further Education providers and industry. It’s vital that roofing employers can access skilled and competent new entrants in order to meet the demands of the sector, and the apprenticeship framework will provide this.

“CITB is working with Welsh Government-approved work-based learning apprenticeship providers within further education and employers to ensure delivery of this new framework can commence as soon as possible. In the meantime, if employers have a specialist roof training requirement that isn’t available in Wales, CITB can support via the Niche Apprenticeship Programme.”

The ‘Niche’ apprenticeship program will provide funding to roofing employers in the region to send their roofing apprentices over 100 or 200 miles away in England, to Walsall College or Warrington for training. Employers are advised to contact their CITB ‘engagement team’ in order to access the funding.

CITB adds that “although SAP funding will cease on 31 March, a number of grant and funding routes remain available, which employers can access to support their training needs, including short duration grants and the Skills & Training Fund.”

However, these funds do not support roofing apprenticeship training.

Despite CITB stating that details of apprenticeship training providers in Wales are available via Careers Wales the sole provider for the roofing sector listed, Pembrokeshire College does not offer roofing apprentices and says the listing is incorrect.

>> Read more about WNRTG funding in the news

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