ConstructionSkills announced plans last week to axe the ВЈ250 grants for courses run by the Chartered Institute of Building.
The move was part of a cost-cutting drive to make-up for a ВЈ13m shortfall of income over expenditure this year.
But the plan has been blasted by CIOB chiefs who attcked the training body for being "short-sighted".
Chief executive Chris Blythe said; "Professionals within the industry will be asking themselves what their Sector Skills Council actually does for them following this announcement. When it comes to creating a skills shortage certainly the noise coming out from CITB-ConstructionSkills is suggesting that we have learnt the lessons from the last recession, but the facts prove otherwise.
ADVERTISEMENT
"What these changes will do is hold back experienced workers and deny them the opportunity to progress their career in construction. We feel this is a short-sighted approach and will create a shortage of site managers with practical experience in the industry.
"It is clear from their announcement that CITB has an emphasis on craft and apprenticeship levels and is undervaluing the professional and management occupations despite the amount of levy collected from that section of the workforce.
"Of course we recognise in these difficult times that there will be necessary restructuring of how the industry continues to fund the training and development of its workers. But at a time when we need to invest in the management of the industry we are denying many the opportunity and risk losing those with real practical experience; and that is a priceless commodity that we cannot afford to lose."
O’Rourke launches apprentice drive
ConstructionSkills axes grants to make up £13m shortfall
GM to end jobs bank Monday
