Training body CITB and the Government Department for Business, Innovation & Skills (BIS) have come to an agreement that will see qualifying firms paying two training levies next year.

A levy for the government’s new Trailblazer apprenticeships is due to start being collected in April next year, although some major companies are still fighting the proposal. It will kick in at 0.5% when a company’s payroll exceeds £3million. It is supposed to replace the CITB levy, but a lot of sectors want to continue with CITB apprenticeships, many in the stone industry among them.

So for next year, at least, qualifying companies will have to pay both. Just over 900 firms will be affected. But it has been agreed that they will only have to pay the new 0.5% levy on that part of the wages bill that is more than £3million. Firms with a payroll below £3million will be unaffected by the changes.

The stone industry is continuing with its plans to develop Trailblazer apprenticeships for the sector led by the Natural Stone Industry Training Group.