From 31st March 2026, the Construction Industry Training Board (CITB) withdrew funding from Training Groups, effectively ending the 80-plus groups around the country that have contributed so much to construction training over the decades. Helmsman ran two of those groups for many years, and their passing is felt keenly.
At the same time, CITB has made it effectively mandatory — for any employer wishing to access a Grant or subsidised training — to book through their Employer Networks. This means CITB will no longer work with third-party organisations on behalf of employers. For Helmsman, the practical consequence is clear: we cannot in good conscience continue to manage training for clients if the process requires them to carry out much of the work themselves. We have therefore taken the difficult decision to cease our Outsourced Training Management service.
In almost 30 years, we have witnessed CITB reinvent itself many times over — so often, in fact, that keeping up with each new set of rules became something of an annual tradition for us. We would not be surprised to see further significant changes from CITB in the years ahead.
Even so, stepping away from the service that Helmsman was founded on back in mid-1997 has been a real wrench. It is part of our identity, and we are proud of everything it achieved for the employers and learners we supported over those decades.
Thankfully, the world of training has changed enormously since 1997. E-Learning has come into its own precisely when flexible, cost-effective training is needed most — and that is where our focus and energy now lies. If you need to upskill your workforce, maintain compliance, or simply find a more convenient way to deliver training, our extensive e-Learning catalogue is here to help.