James Wates has been CITB chairman since 2010 and will now remain in post until at least 2018.
“I’m delighted to be continuing as chairman of CITB,” he said. “This is an exciting time for construction and I’m proud to lead an organisation with such an important role in ensuring that the industry has the skilled workforce it needs.”
Mr Wates said that the role of the CITB was not just to provide training but also to act as a lobbying organisation.
He continued: “CITB will deliver on its promise to the industry to become more efficient and effective. We’ll work with the sector on making sure that employer funding supports the right skills that training providers meet industry needs and that information about opportunities in construction is easy to access. We’ll continue to deliver on the shared ambition to deliver significantly more apprenticeships.
“But this is not just about skills for young people. We need to change our proposition as an industry and think about training and career pathways for the whole of the workforce – as that’s what industry wants and needs.
“I will look to build a much stronger platform for engagement with industry across government. I will be talking to ministers regularly to discuss how we can best work together on the challenges and opportunities facing the industry.”
Mr Wates is also chairman of the UK Contractors Group, the Building Research Establishment Trust and the Prince's Trust Built Environment Leadership Group. His numerous other roles include membership of the Confederation of British Industry’s construction council.
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