NVQ Funding
The cost of completing an NVQ can be a concern for both individuals and employers, but there are a number of external NVQ funding and grant options that may help reduce the cost.
Train 4 Growth does not provide or guarantee funding directly. Funding is provided by external organisations and schemes, and eligibility depends on factors such as the qualification, your employment status, your employer, your location and the funding available at the time.
Possible routes can include CITB qualification grants, CITB Employer Networks, apprenticeship funding, Free Courses for Jobs, the Adult Skills Fund, Advanced Learner Loans and local or devolved skills funding. Employers can also choose to fund qualifications directly as part of their workforce training and development.
Not every qualification or learner will qualify for every scheme, so it is important to check the current eligibility rules before enrolling.
Can I Get Funding for an NVQ?
You may be able to access financial support towards an NVQ, but the route available to you will depend on your circumstances.
If you are employed in construction, your employer may be able to claim a CITB grant for an eligible qualification. Smaller and medium-sized CITB-registered employers may also be able to access training support through Employer Networks, while larger employers have separate CITB funding arrangements.
Individuals in England may also qualify for government-funded training through schemes such as Free Courses for Jobs, depending on their age, earnings, employment status, location and the qualification they want to complete. Advanced Learner Loans may be available for some eligible qualifications where full funding is not available.
Train 4 Growth can help you identify the NVQ that matches your role and explain any funding routes that may be relevant, but all funding decisions and applications are handled by the organisation providing the funding.
Not sure which route applies to you? Contact Train 4 Growth and we can help you understand your qualification options.
CITB Grants for NVQ Qualifications
If your employer is registered with the Construction Industry Training Board (CITB) and is up to date with its Levy Returns, it may be able to claim a grant when you successfully complete an eligible construction qualification.
For many eligible non-apprenticeship construction qualifications completed in 2026, the standard CITB achievement grant is £600. Some qualifications have different grant rates, so employers should always check the current CITB qualification list before relying on a particular amount.
The grant is normally claimed by the CITB-registered employer after the qualification has been successfully achieved. It is not funding paid directly by Train 4 Growth and does not automatically reduce the course fee at enrolment.
Train 4 Growth can provide relevant qualification documentation where needed to support an employer’s CITB grant claim.
👉 Check current eligibility and grant rates on the official CITB qualification grants page.
Understanding CITB Grant Amounts for NVQs
CITB grant rates changed from January 2026. The standard achievement grant for many eligible construction NVQs is now £600, including many management and supervision qualifications that previously attracted higher rates.
There are some exceptions and transitional arrangements, so the amount available should always be checked against the exact qualification before training starts.
| Qualification Type | CITB Grant Rate for 2026 Achievements |
|---|---|
| Approved Level 2–6 NVQs/SVQs and other full construction qualifications Includes many trade, supervision and management qualifications |
£600 per achievement |
| Specific Management Qualifications Including eligible construction management NVQs |
£600 per achievement |
| Specific Supervision Qualifications Including eligible supervisory NVQs |
£600 per achievement |
| Specific Rainscreen Cladding Qualifications | £1,000 per achievement |
| Level 2 Plant Operations VQ – Additional Units | £300 per unit, up to 3 units per person |
| Approved Award Qualifications at Level 2 or Above | £240 per achievement |
| Level 7 Qualifications | No grant for new starts. Limited transitional support may apply to eligible qualifications started by 8 December 2025. |
Important information: Train 4 Growth does not provide, approve or guarantee CITB funding. CITB grants are claimed directly by eligible CITB-registered employers and are subject to CITB’s current rules and approved qualification list.
The employer claiming the grant must normally be registered with CITB and up to date with its Levy Returns. CITB can pay qualification grants for eligible directly employed workers, business owners and partners, and subcontractors.
The amount available depends on the exact qualification and current CITB grant rules, so employers should check eligibility before relying on a grant towards the cost of an NVQ.
How to Claim a CITB NVQ Grant
If your employer is eligible for a CITB qualification grant, the claim is made directly to CITB after you successfully achieve the qualification. Train 4 Growth does not submit or receive the grant on the employer’s behalf.
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Check that the employer is eligible
The business must be registered with CITB and up to date with its Levy Returns. It is also important to check that the exact qualification is included on CITB’s current list of qualifications eligible for grant.
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Complete your NVQ
Successfully complete the relevant NVQ with Train 4 Growth and achieve the qualification.
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Keep your qualification evidence
Once your qualification has been completed and certified, keep the relevant achievement and certificate information needed to support the grant claim.
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Submit the claim to CITB
The eligible employer can submit the qualification grant claim through CITB Online Services.
Qualification grant claims normally need to be submitted within 52 weeks of the achievement date, so employers should not leave the application too late.
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CITB reviews and pays the claim
If CITB approves the application, the grant is paid directly to the eligible employer. It is not paid to Train 4 Growth or directly to the learner.
How Train 4 Growth Can Help
Although we do not provide funding or make CITB grant applications on your behalf, we can help with the qualification side of the process.
Choosing the right NVQ: We can help you identify a qualification that matches your job role and progression requirements.
Qualification documentation: We can provide the relevant documentation relating to the NVQ you complete with us.
Current qualification information: We can help you confirm the exact qualification you are enrolling on so that you or your employer can check it against the relevant external funding or grant scheme.
For current CITB rules and applications, visit the official CITB qualification grants section.
Who May Be Eligible for NVQ Funding?
There is no single set of eligibility rules for NVQ funding. Different grants and government schemes are aimed at different learners and employers, and Train 4 Growth does not provide or guarantee funding itself.
Depending on your circumstances, external funding options may include:
CITB qualification grants: CITB-registered employers that are up to date with their Levy Returns may be able to claim grants for eligible construction qualifications completed by employees, business owners, partners or subcontractors.
Free Courses for Jobs: In England, some adults aged 19 or over can access eligible Level 3 qualifications and selected Level 2 construction qualifications free of charge. Eligibility depends on factors including earnings, employment status, previous qualifications and local funding rules.
Adult Skills Fund: Some eligible adult learners may be able to access fully or partly funded training through national or devolved adult skills provision, depending on the qualification, provider and learner circumstances.
Advanced Learner Loans: Learners aged 19 or over may be able to use an Advanced Learner Loan for certain eligible Level 3 to Level 6 qualifications delivered by approved providers in England where other funding is not available.
Apprenticeship funding: Where an NVQ forms part of an eligible apprenticeship programme, training and assessment may be funded through the apprenticeship system rather than as a standalone NVQ.
CITB Employer Networks: CITB-registered employers with 1 to 249 employees can access support for eligible training through Employer Networks. From April 2026, this generally operates on a 50% match-funding basis, subject to annual employer caps and the type of training being undertaken.
Local and devolved funding: Additional schemes may be available through combined authorities, councils, regional skills programmes or devolved governments. Availability varies by location and can change during the year.
Employer-funded training: Employers can also choose to pay for NVQs directly as part of workforce development, competence planning or CSCS progression.
Because the rules vary between schemes, always check the eligibility requirements for the exact qualification and funding route before enrolling.
Why Choose Train 4 Growth for Your NVQ?
If you already have experience in your role, an NVQ can give you recognised evidence of the skills and competence you use at work. Train 4 Growth offers workplace-based construction qualifications across a wide range of trades, supervisory and management roles.
Help choosing the right qualification: We can help you match the NVQ to your occupation, experience and CSCS card requirements.
Workplace-based assessment: Many of our NVQs assess the work you are already carrying out, helping to reduce unnecessary time away from site.
Support throughout your qualification: Your assessor will explain the evidence required and guide you through the assessment process.
Qualifications for individuals and teams: We can work with individual learners or employers that need to qualify several members of their workforce.
Not sure which qualification or external funding route may apply? Contact Train 4 Growth and we can help you work out the right NVQ before you enrol.
Important: CITB only pays grants for approved qualifications, and the amount available should always be checked against the exact qualification before enrolling. Employers must also meet CITB’s current eligibility requirements.
Level 7 qualifications are no longer funded for new starts. Transitional support of £600 may still be available for eligible Level 7 qualifications that started by 8 December 2025, where CITB was notified by 31 March 2026 and the qualification is successfully achieved by 31 March 2028.
👉 Check the current CITB list of qualifications eligible for grant.
Talk to Train 4 Growth About Your NVQ Options
If you are looking to gain an NVQ yourself or get members of your team qualified, there may be external funding or grant options available depending on your circumstances.
Train 4 Growth does not provide or guarantee funding, but we can help you identify the right qualification for your role and explain which external funding routes may be worth checking.
Get in touch to discuss the NVQ you need and the next steps.
📞 Call us: 0161 706 1401
🌐 Or use our Contact Form to get started.