The Construction Industry Training Board (CITB) is the industry training board for the construction sector in England, Scotland and Wales, with a remit to support the construction industry in attracting and retaining talent, and to support skills development. 

CITB run a comparative skills and training survey to inform their strategic decision-making on skills gaps, shortages, recruitment, volume and type of training, and maintain their position as a support to the industry. Harlow Consulting has delivered the last two iterations of this survey, in 2021 and in 2024.

Our task was to design and run the surveys, analyse and produce a final report outlining the shape of the sector with relevant insights. Each year we worked with a client stakeholder group to review the previous year’s questionnaire, identify questions to retain and those which would be replaced to address contemporary issues. For example, in 2021, we explored the impacts of the Covid-19 pandemic; in 2024, we explored the impact of the cost of living and the prevalence of multi-skilling. All other questions were retained to facilitate longitudinal analysis and comparative reporting. 

Using a team of telephone researchers, we achieved over 1,200 survey completions stratified by business size, trade (SIC code) and nation/region. Results were weighted to be representative of these stratifications. Quantitative data were supplemented with 15 depth interviews with key stakeholders, including trade associations and professional bodies.