However, as with many other organisations, HAE’s backing is marginal and conditional
HAE managing director Graham Arundell said: “We polled in-scope members about the proposals and received a mixed response; just a very slight margin in support of the CITB package. It was not an overwhelming level of support and therefore HAE backing is conditional.”
He added: “We want the pace of change and reform at CITB to be intensified, with a greater level of support for supply chain specialities, such as hire and rental, and for SMEs. A simpler grants system is also much needed which responds to market needs and not those of a bureaucracy.
“Nationally, there remains confusion about the purpose and cost of having both a CITB levy and an apprenticeship levy. We want government and CITB to work together so levy-payers have greater clarity about the respective funds and their allocation.”
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