It aims to reduce the organisation’s payroll bill by 17%, saving £4.5m per year as levy income is predicted to fall because of the impact of Covid-19.

CITB suspended levy collection as a result of the pandemic and will halve next year’s payment – a reduction of £242m in levy income over three years.

The sweeping staff cuts will allow CITB to focus its expenditure on directly supporting construction employers with their key skills, training and apprenticeships needs.

The CITB said targetted cuts would protect front-line services to construction employers, with a proportionately greater reduction in back-office and management roles.

Its redundancy programme will be cost-neutral in 2020/21 if CITB implements proposed change to its pay off policy.

Sarah Beale, CITB chief executive, said: “CITB started the year with an agreed business plan and budget, but the impact of COVID-19 has been severe.

“Our response – advancing apprenticeship grants and cutting Levy bills – was critical to support construction employers during the crisis.

“But the combination of less industry activity and lower Levy rates has reduced our forecast income over this three year period.”

CITB aims to implement the proposed changes by the end of 2020 and to continue to deliver it’s 2020/21 business plan, the Skills Stability Plan. It will launch a four-year strategic plan, covering 2021-25 in late September.