CITB base move proposal ‘flawed’, says union

The Construction Industry Training Board’s (CITB) proposed move from Bircham Newton has been described as deeply flawed.

Union and management representatives, Unite, say they have no confidence in the CITB’s planned move from its current headquarters to an unspecified site in Peterborough.

But the CITB board says their consultation is continuing and they have received a detailed response from employee representatives on the move.

The union has penned a 32-page document in response to the CTIB’s proposed head office move, saying “the only conclusion that can be drawn from this analysis is a vote of no confidence in the process, dissemination and accuracy of all data”.

The document, which has been presented to the CITB’s board, contains four main criticisms including validity, robustness and fairness of the data used.

Unite regional coordinator officer, Mark Robinson said: “The CITB’s plans to move from its headquarters in Bircham Newton to Peterborough have been eviscerated. The process has been exposed as so flawed that it is not even appropriate to make an alternative proposal.

“If the CITB’s board wishes to maintain an iota of credibility it must restart the process of evaluating and consulting on the options for moving the head office.”

The CITB is also planning to divest itself of its national construction college and intends to no longer directly provide construction training.

Mr Robinson added: “We urge the board to look at this document. It is not too late for the board to think again before it seriously damages, not only the lives of hundreds of dedicated CITB employees, but also the training so desperately required in the construction industry.

“The CITB needs to urgently go back and consult the industry it is supposed to represent.”

A CITB spokesman said: “The collective consultation period around our proposal to create a new single head office continues.

“Our executive team is now considering this submission and is committed to assessing the detailed information thoroughly, and will respond fully when that work has been completed. We expect this to be by mid-June.

“We thank all colleagues who have contributed to the collective consultation process.

“Communications around this consultation and other aspects of the Vision 2020 programme will be shared with colleagues first.”