The UK government will seek views over 12 weeks on the principle of the two organisations forming a single body.

Andrew Hockey, CEO of the ECITB, said: “The decision to form a single body would only be made following analysis of the consultation and is not yet the final directive.

“We have started working with the DWP and the CITB to map out how a transition to a single body could be implemented, should this be the final decision.”

He added: “The recommendation to create a single body does not affect the ECITB’s recent levy consensus vote. So, we expect that the levy order for 2026-28 will be laid as planned.”

Tim Balcon, CEO of the CITB, said: “Regardless of the outcome we must continue to work to tackle the joint needs of industry – we need to be providing standardised levels of competence, alternative routes into industry and making it easier to access high-quality training.

“We have been already working with the ECITB on a number of areas. An example of this is strategic skills planning for Sizewell C. Where we are developing whole-career training pathways and interventions that span both the civil and ECI phases of that project. 

“Nuclear new build is a clear example where both the civil construction workforce and the ECI workforce work alongside each other.”

An independent review published in January 2025, which assessed the role and effectiveness of both the ECITB and CITB, outlined the important role the two ITBs play in addressing the skills needs of the construction and engineering construction industries.

The review argued that their role should be strengthened and called on them to do more collaboratively as a single body.

Enhanced collaboration has been underway for the past year between the ECITB and CITB on specific areas including infrastructure, increasing trainers and assessors, clean energy jobs and skills passporting.

The ECI spans sectors that focus on the construction, maintenance and decommissioning of heavy industry, including oil and gas, nuclear, power generation, renewables, chemicals, carbon capture and storage, hydrogen, food and drink, pharmaceuticals and water treatment.