CITB has launched a £250,000 pilot project to upskill façade installers and supervisors across the UK. The programme is designed to raise standards in high-risk façade systems following safety concerns highlighted by the Grenfell Tower inquiry.
The project, delivered by 3B Training Ltd, based in Wigan, aims to train 100 façade installers and 24 supervisors by early 2026. This national initiative supports the wider Government push to accelerate cladding remediation, as outlined in the Remediation Acceleration Plan published in December 2024.
CITB’s move is supported by new legislation in Scotland and Wales, including the recently introduced Building Safety (Wales) Bill. The aim is to set clear responsibilities for building owners and ensure a competent workforce is in place to meet them.
Tim Balcon, CITB CEO, said the industry urgently needs more skilled workers to carry out safe remediation. He stressed the importance of building long-term workforce capacity, not just responding to current demand.
Matthew Bewley from 3B Training confirmed the programme will include a steering group to define training standards and will directly support the recommendations of Dame Judith Hackitt’s post-Grenfell review.
What Others Are Saying
Construction Management confirmed the funding and delivery model, highlighting its alignment with government remediation targets.
Roofing Today and The Construction Index echoed the urgency of upskilling cladding and façade workers, particularly in light of incoming legal requirements for high-rise residential buildings.
All sources point to the same message: clients must now verify competence, not just cost, when appointing contractors.
What This Means for Westbury FM Clients
Westbury FM works with housing associations, schools, and councils. Many of these organisations own multi-storey or multi-occupancy buildings where façade maintenance plays a critical safety role.
CITB’s project brings three clear benefits to the organisations we support:
- It creates a new benchmark for façade competence.
- It supports safer, more accountable supply chains.
- It gives clients a clearer view of contractor capability.
We expect this new training standard to become a de facto requirement in future public sector contracts.
We already self-deliver planned and reactive maintenance using in-house engineers. This model gives us full control over training, record keeping, and performance.
We support CITB’s efforts and will:
- Track the development of the new framework and align our training where appropriate.
- Guide clients in choosing contractors and suppliers that meet emerging competence standards.
- Share updates as the training programme rolls out.
What You Should Be Asking
For housing, education, and local authority teams, now is the time to ask:
- Who maintains our façades, and what is their training background?
- Do they hold verifiable certifications aligned with CITB’s programme?
- Can they demonstrate supervisor competence for high-risk works?
- Is our maintenance partner investing in skills?
At Westbury FM, we believe safety starts with the people doing the work. Our in-house approach ensures clear accountability, consistent quality, and peace of mind for asset owners and building users alike.
Read the original CITB release here:
🔗 CITB Launches Building Safety Project to Upskill Façade Workers
References:
https://constructionmanagement.co.uk/citb-launches-250k-building-safety-skills-training-programme
https://www.theconstructionindex.co.uk/news/view/citb-backs-training-for-cladders
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