16th September 2009

ESSA takes CITB financial burden away from its members

ESSA takes CITB financial burden away from its members - all members with outstanding appeals confirmed ‘out-of-scope’

ESSA takes CITB financial burden away from its members - all members with outstanding appeals confirmed ‘out-of-scope’

ESSA, has managed to save many of its members tens of thousands of pounds by successfully negotiating with CITB-ConstructionSkills over the CITB-ConstructionSkills training levy. ESSA has received confirmation that all of its members that have appealed against paying the levy will not be liable for payments. ESSA has also gained clarification of the requirements for the scope of the CITB-ConstructionSkills training levy for its members.

ESSA, has met with CITB-ConstructionSkills to discuss the levy process and gain clarification of the list of activities that can be regarded as ‘out-of-scope’ and they have now confirmed that much of the work conducted by ESSA’s members, especially off-site manufacture, is now ‘out-of-scope’.

“The debt burden for companies begins when they are identified as being ‘in-scope’, and continues to build while the investigations take place – this can end up with companies potentially owing many thousands of pounds if they should lose the appeal. We see our achievement as a real success story, because it has taken a huge financial burden off our members. Some of our members will save more money each year in the CITB-ConstructionSkills training levy than they pay in ESSA membership – this is a true member benefit!” says ESSA Director Chris Skeith.

“We were contacted by CITB-ConstructionSkills about the training levy, and approached ESSA to see if they could help us,” says Robert Stewart, of RS Displays, a Doncaster, South Yorkshire-based specialist in the design and manufacture of exhibition stands, and visitor centre and museum displays. “We put the problem in their hands, and they managed it all, from start to finish. The whole process took about nine months, and it is a relief to know that it is sorted. Chris contacted us personally to say that we had won the case – he has put a new face on ESSA, and it seems to be working.”

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