Firms employing less than 100 people can apply for up to £10,000 in grants under the CITB’s Skills and Training Fund.

But not many contractors are aware of the scheme.

Training company Construction Skills People (CSP) has been spreading the word among its clients and has secured more than £250,000 in funding for them.

Chris Lyons from C L Dry Lining in Bridgewater told CSP: ‘’Thanks for making me aware of this funding…..I now have £5000 to spend on training at no cost to me’’

Jon Ingal at Northamptonshire based Maypine Civil Engineering said: “We have today received confirmation that our bid for the CITB’s Skills & training fund has been successful and they have told us we will shortly be receiving the funds to cover the training we need.

“Thanks for bringing this funding initiative to our attention.”

CSP director Stuart Anderson said: “This is a good initiative from the CITB but the main problem is making people aware that it exists.

“Free training money seems too good to be true but that is what is available to smaller contractors under this initiative.”