The CITB is cutting its bloated management structure as it fights for survival.

The training body has started consultation over redundancies among its current 188 “middle management positions”

The plan is to initially cut numbers by 14% – or 26 roles.

Latest figures from the CITB show that in 2014 it employed 1,457 direct and temporary employees – more than all but the biggest construction companies.

The Government has launched consultation over an industry-wide training levy for large firms which threatens the whole future of the CITB.

Adrian Belton, Chief Executive of the Construction Industry Training Board (CITB), said: “For the past 18 months, CITB has been transforming itself to better meet the needs of industry.

“We have a revamped Executive and Leadership Team, a new board appointed in January of this year, and have clarified our mission, vision and values.

“We are now moving into the next phase of change, which looks at our middle management level.

“This is the layer in most need of re-shaping, so that over 1,000 colleagues reporting into it can be freed up to focus on the needs of industry, rather than coping with complex internal processes.

“CITB has been too heavily managed in the past, and so we will simplify teams and structures, establish fewer but more flexible role types, and embed a new, more agile way of working.

“Proposals have been shared with all colleagues who are affected, and these will be consulted on in the next few months. In the meantime, we are committed to maintaining service levels for customers until the changes are finalised in early 2016.

“CITB is changing, and the delivery of major initiatives like Go Construct and the reformed Flexible Funding Scheme demonstrate this.

“This next phase of transform will make the organisation ready to meet the skills needs of the construction industry now and for many years to come.”