At a glance

The Construction Industry Training Board (CITB) has launched a consultation on recognising construction workers' skills developed on the job, potentially allowing them to gain formal recognition without completing new qualifications. Essential Site Skills supports the initiative but emphasises the need for rigorous independent assessments to ensure workers meet industry standards. This proposal aims to help experienced workers advance their careers and address the construction sector's skills challenges.

Proposals to recognise construction workers’ existing skills could remove unnecessary barriers to career progression, but effective implementation will be essential to maintaining industry confidence, according to Essential Site Skills.

The Construction Industry Training Board (CITB) has launched a consultation on plans that could allow workers to gain formal recognition for specific skills developed on the job, without necessarily completing an entirely new occupational qualification.

The proposals, known as Functional Competence, could mark a significant change in how construction recognises the abilities of its workforce.

For experienced workers who have spent years developing specialist skills but lack formal recognition, the changes could open new opportunities.

Construction training and qualifications provider Essential Site Skills has welcomed the consultation, highlighting the importance of robust independent assessment, clearly defined competence requirements and consistent implementation.

Catherine Storer, Executive Director at Essential Site Skills, said: “Construction has thousands of experienced workers who know their jobs inside out but don’t necessarily have the qualifications to reflect it. We shouldn’t be making people jump through unnecessary hoops to prove skills they’ve spent years developing.

“Recognising that experience is a positive step, and it’s encouraging to see CITB exploring a more flexible approach.

“But there’s a difference between recognising someone’s experience and demonstrating that they can carry out work safely and to the required standard. That’s why independent assessment is so important.”

Recognising skills without lowering the bar CITB’s proposals would introduce a system allowing workers to demonstrate competence in specific activities rather than requiring them to prove competence across an entire occupation. For example, CITB suggests that someone working in roofing could gain recognition for their competence in installing solar panels without having to complete an entirely new occupational qualification. The proposed system would sit alongside existing NVQs and apprenticeships, rather than replace them. CITB has also made clear that Functional Competence would involve rigorous independent assessment against industry-agreed standards and would not automatically qualify workers for skilled or occupational card status. Essential Site Skills believes these principles provide an important foundation, with the success of the system depending on how they are applied in practice.

Catherine continued: “The important thing now is how this works in practice. Assessments must be rigorous, consistent and independently verified, with employers able to understand exactly what an individual has demonstrated competence to do.

“If a worker has been assessed as competent in one specialist activity, that’s valuable.

But it doesn’t suddenly mean they’re competent across an entire trade.

“Getting those distinctions right will be critical to making the system useful for employers while maintaining confidence in industry standards.”

An opportunity to tackle construction’s skills challenge The consultation comes as the sector faces continued pressure to develop its workforce, retain experienced workers and respond to changing construction methods and technologies. For employers, a more flexible approach could help identify existing capabilities, support progression and avoid duplicating training where workers can already demonstrate the required standard. Essential Site Skills believes the proposals offer an opportunity to recognise practical experience more effectively while protecting the value of established qualifications and competence assessment routes.

Catherine added: “Construction needs skilled people, and we can’t afford to overlook the experience and abilities already within our workforce.

“If we can remove unnecessary barriers, recognise genuine expertise and help people develop new skills without compromising standards, that’s a positive outcome for everyone.

“The principle is right. Now it’s about making sure the system delivers on that ambition.

“Recognising experience is overdue.

Compromising competence is not an option.” CITB’s consultation opened on 12th October 2026 and runs until 15th January 2027, with employers, training providers, awarding organisations and other industry stakeholders invited to respond. Subject to industry approval, CITB plans to begin identifying Functional Competence requirements for individual occupations from April 2027.

Editorial insight

Proposals to formally recognise construction workers’ existing skills have long been debated in the sector, particularly as employers seek to address persistent skills shortages and retain experienced staff. The Construction Industry Training Board’s consultation on Functional Competence comes at a time when the industry is under pressure to increase productivity and adapt to new technologies, making the question of how best to assess and accredit workforce capabilities highly relevant.

For many employers and workers, the potential to gain recognition for specialist skills without repeating training could help remove obstacles to career progression and make better use of the talent already on site. However, as highlighted by Essential Site Skills, the credibility of any new system will depend on rigorous assessment and clear communication of what recognised competence actually means in practice. The sector’s response to the consultation and the detail of implementation will be critical to ensuring that higher flexibility does not come at the expense of safety or standards.

Story ideas and journalist angles

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