CITB Funding for SMSTS and SSSTS in 2026: What Changed

If you searched for the CITB grant for SMSTS, the answer changed on 8 January 2026. Site Safety Plus courses such as SMSTS and SSSTS are no longer funded through the CITB Grants Scheme at all. Support has moved to a different system, Employer Networks, at fixed rates, with one booking rule that catches almost everyone out. This guide covers what ended, what replaced it, and the one funding route you can still act on directly.

Figures checked on CITB's website in July 2026.

Grants for SMSTS and SSSTS ended in January 2026

From 8 January 2026, CITB stopped paying Grants Scheme grants on Site Safety Plus health and safety short courses. That covers SMSTS, SSSTS and their refreshers. Short course grants now apply only to plant, scaffolding and a small list of exempted specialist standards, as set out on CITB's short course grants page. Support for health and safety courses did not disappear altogether. It moved to Employer Networks, with different rules and different money.

The old rates, for the record

Before January 2026, SMSTS attracted a £240 grant and SSSTS £140 under the old tiered system. You will still see those figures quoted across the web, but they are history: the tiers were withdrawn on 8 January 2026 and the rates have since changed. If a page quotes them as current, it has not been updated. CITB's short course grants page confirms the current position.

What replaced them: fixed contributions through Employer Networks

Funding for these courses now comes through CITB Employer Networks, local groups that CITB funds so training decisions get made closer to home. For the most popular health and safety courses the contribution is a fixed amount per course, effective from 8 January 2026:

• SMSTS: £115, and £55 for the SMSTS Refresher
• SSSTS: £115, and £55 for the SSSTS Refresher
• Temporary Works Coordinator: £115, and £55 for the refresher

These figures come from CITB's published list of health and safety courses supported via Employer Networks. For how the networks work more broadly, including the 50% match funding option and the annual caps by company size, see our full Employer Network guide.

The rule that decides whether you get the money

Employer Network funding is only paid on training booked through CITB's Employer Network Booking Team. CITB's policy is explicit: only training booked through that team is eligible. That means you cannot book a course independently, on any booking site including CourseGenie, and then claim the contribution afterwards. If the funded rate matters more to you than the start date, contact your local network first and let their team place the booking. The details are on CITB's Employer Networks page.

If you need a confirmed seat quickly, or you want to compare every venue, date and price side by side before committing, booking direct is still the fastest route. Just go in with your eyes open: a standard checkout booking does not qualify for the Employer Network contribution.

Have a business account with CourseGenie, or booking for a team? We can arrange Employer Network funded places on these courses through our CITB registered training provider. The funded booking is processed through CITB's Employer Network channel, and we handle the arranging. Start with a group enquiry, or speak to your CITB Adviser.

NVQs are different: the £600 grant follows the learner

Qualification grants work on a different basis from Employer Network funding. CITB pays a £600 grant for qualifications that take under a year to complete, including construction NVQs from Level 2 to Level 6. The grant is claimed on achievement: you need to be CITB registered with Levy Returns up to date, hold the certificate, and claim within 52 weeks. The rules are on CITB's short qualification grant page. Crucially, the grant is tied to the achievement, not the booking route, so there is no requirement to book through a CITB team.

That makes NVQs the strongest funding route you can act on directly. For example, the Level 6 NVQ in Construction Site Management costs £1,500 on CourseGenie, and a registered employer can claim £600 from CITB once the learner achieves it. One note on older figures: the enhanced NVQ rates ended for achievements after December 2025, so the flat £600 is the number to plan around.

You do not have to actually pay levy to claim, either. Grants are open to all CITB registered employers whose Levy Returns are up to date, whether or not any levy is due, as set out on CITB's grants scheme page. If you are not sure where you stand, our plain English levy guide covers who registers, who pays and who is exempt.

Common questions

Can I claim the £115 if I book SMSTS at checkout on CourseGenie? No. Employer Network funding only applies to training booked through CITB's Employer Network Booking Team, so a standard checkout booking is not eligible and the contribution cannot be claimed back afterwards. If you want the funded route on the same courses, send us a group enquiry and we can arrange an Employer Network funded place through our CITB registered provider.

Do I have to pay the levy to qualify for CITB funding? No. You need to be registered with CITB and have your Levy Returns up to date. Many small firms are registered but pay nothing, and they can still claim.

What happened to the old SMSTS grant? The tiered short course grants ended on 8 January 2026. The replacement for SMSTS and SSSTS is the fixed Employer Network contribution, and it has to be booked through CITB's team.

Need dates rather than paperwork? Compare live SMSTS and SSSTS dates, venues and prices side by side, with instant confirmation. Booking supervisors or managers for a whole team? Request a group quote and we will price the whole crew in one go.