Discover the Best Spray Painting Courses Near You with Our Training Academy
Stop there. Have you been searching for ‘spray painting courses near me’, or are you about to start your search? If you are considering taking a spray painting course, you may be looking online to find some of the best training providers in the UK. You might be considering factors such as location, the trainers and, most importantly, the price.
Picking a spray painting courses near me
Let me share Painttech Training Academy’s perspective. We are not the cheapest option, but we are the most experienced. And due to our success, our courses are supported by the UK’s leading construction industry training board (CITB), making us the most trusted academy for decorators who want to enhance their skills, as recognised by experts in our field. Because of that our course are also fully funded.
So, while we may not be the cheapest, our courses are free for individuals who run a decorating business.
Access £2500 or £5000 this year and every year through CITB.
I have mentioned this in previous blog posts, but it’s worth reiterating for those new to our blogs: let me explain who The Construction Industry Training Board (CITB) is and how they can help. CITB is an organisation for the construction industry that provides funding for construction-based trades, such as decorators, in England, Wales, and Scotland. They work with the most reputable training providers, such as our academy, to offer funding for courses. Therefore, when you search for spray painting courses near me, and we appear amongst other choices, remember that we are one of only a few training providers vetted and trusted by the government’s own construction body. We can offer you free funding through CITB and are the UK’s most trusted training provider for decorators.
What’s the catch?
However, there are two catches you should be aware of. I say catches light heartedly as people always ask ‘what’s the catch’, they’re actually just steps to take for funding.
Firstly, CITB requires you to pay a small levy back to them once your wage bill exceeds £120,000 per year. Yep, £120,000 in wages yearly, and I imagine most wouldn’t mind being in a position of paying out £120,000 in wages per year.
Secondly, to qualify for the grant, you need to be registered with CITB, be a limited company or company “trading as” with PAYE staff, or for smaller micro-businesses, you just need to be registered with CITB and CIS (Construction Industry Scheme) and have used another tradesperson who is CIS registered at least once.
How do you become a limited company?
You don’t have to be a Limited Company to access CTB funding, but I feel it important we pick up on this, as again, we often get asked by decorators how to become a limited company. We’re not an accountancy practice, so this advice is from our perspective and not qualified advice. In the UK, the process of becoming a limited company is straightforward. First, register your company with Companies House and obtain a Certificate of Incorporation. Then, during the signup process, you’ll need to designate individuals as directors and shareholders, afterwards prepare other necessary documents, appoint an accountant, and open a business bank account. Once you have completed all these steps, your limited company will be officially registered with Companies House.
It’s worth noting that setting up a limited company also requires several accounting tasks, including completing tax returns, filing accounts, and keeping records up to date, which can be an additional expense compared to being a sole trader. Therefore, weighing the pros and cons of being Ltd is essential, and we recommend consulting with an accountant before making any decisions.
CITB for life.
One of our biggest concerns for decorators is that many businesses do not use their CITB funding for subsequent years after their initial application.
Many businesses cite being too busy for not using their CITB funding for subsequent years. While it’s great to see the success of our courses, try to take note that if a few courses in a year make someone too busy, just imagine the growth potential of taking several courses in the following year. Funding for learning, and completing the training is essential if you’re considering spending less time on the tools and bringing on staff. It’s an investment in the growth of your business.
Some businesses don’t know which courses to take next. We understand that, but we have recently added several new courses to our list, such as ‘Worktop Refurbishment’, ‘Venetian Polished Plaster’, ‘Project Management in Construction’, and ‘Estimating for Painting & Decorating’. Not all of our courses are currently CITB-funded, but we are working with CITB to make that happen. We also have plans to introduce many more courses, including ‘Water-Based Finishes’, ‘Health and Safety for Painters and Decorators’, and ‘Production and Use of Multi-Plate Stencils’. Our intention is to offer every course that you need to grow your decorating business – fully funded. If you’re a decorator that learnt to spray kitchens on our kitchens & fitted furniture course previously then by doing our worktop refurbishment course means you could go back to those same clients and sell an additional service that you couldn’t do before. This course is a great add on to your skills and covers epoxy resin and HawkLabs Stoneflecks products It’s a win win.
So, no more searching for ‘spray painting courses near me’ on Google. Painttech will be the only place you’ll need to go.
How to apply for CITB.
You’re new to decorating and don’t know if your business is established enough for CITB funding. It’s easy to find out; either check the CITB website or call us for a 1-2-1 call.
The CITB website does provide plenty of supporting information, including details of the trades that fall under the construction industry, according to CITB. It’s worth noting that you don’t have to be a decorator to receive CITB funding and take our courses; we have many builders, carpenters and multi trades who attend our courses and are interested in learning to spray.
As for eligibility, CITB will class an eligible company as an employer (person or a company) with one or more employees, including staff on the payroll and subcontractors on CIS.’
We recommend that you reach out to us first before applying so that we can assist with the application and work with our CITB advisors on the process. Due to the number of CITB applications we handle monthly, we have direct access to CITB advisors. Alternatively, you can visit the application form on the CITB website. Although the website states that it can take up to 10 days, we find that CITB processes application forms in bulk once a month. If you haven’t heard back within a few weeks, please be patient; you may have submitted your application at the start of their monthly cycle. Feel free to contact us if you have any concerns, and we’ll check for you.
What’s a levy?
As per CITB’s website, ‘CITB is required to impose a levy on employers who are wholly or mainly engaged in construction industry activities, and your business is legally obliged to complete annual Levy Returns. You will be asked to provide details of your wage bill for us to assess any levy liability.
How much is the CITB levy
The levy you need to pay is determined by the total amount you pay to your employees and CIS subcontractors annually. This includes individuals who are on the payroll and those from whom you make a CIS deduction.
The levy rates for the 2021 – 2023 Levy Assessments have been established at 0.35% for PAYE and 1.25% for Net CIS under the 2022 Levy Order. However, small business owners are entitled to the Small Business Levy Reduction, which means if your total wage bill, which includes payroll and Net CIS, is less than £120,000 in wages, you don’t have to pay anything on your levy. If your wage bill falls between £120,000 and £399,999, you are entitled to a 50% reduction in the levy.
Whether you need to pay the levy or not, completing a Levy Return is mandatory as per the legal requirement, and it’s vital that you complete it on time to receive the following year’s funding.
If you need confidence on what you’ll pay towards the levy before applying, please use CITB’s calculator. Click here.
For self-employed individuals who may be entitled to £2,500 per year through CIS, it’s important to know that you’ll need to include the number of CIS deductions you made from your subcontractors’ payments on your levy form.
Following year funding.
To qualify for funding in the following year, it’s essential to complete your levy on time and to know which courses you plan to take. If your circumstances are the same as the previous year, then you don’t need to register with CITB again, but you do need to apply for funding for the courses. Each of our courses has a code (GET code) that you’ll need to include on your funding application form to receive the money. As you are already established with CITB, we may be able to do all the work for you and ask CITB directly to pay us, saving you the hassle and paperwork of the application process.
If you’re attending our courses for the first time, we’ll make a note to contact you at the start of your next funding year to assist with your application. CITB funding is your money, and you’re entitled to it, regardless of whether you spend it with us. CITB is mandated to pass it on, so there’s no reason not to apply.
Conclusion
In conclusion, CITB funding is a valuable resource for decorators and other construction industry workers who want to upskill and develop their businesses. Applying for funding and registering for courses can seem daunting, but with our assistance, it can be straightforward and stress-free. Remember to complete your levy on time and apply for funding for the courses you want to take. CITB funding is your money, and you’re entitled to it, whether you spend it with us or not.
We believe that our courses are the best in the UK, and our training academy is the most trusted by decorators who want to upskill. So next time you or anyone you know is searching for spray painting courses near me, we really are the place to go.
Don’t let a lack of funding prevent you from achieving your business goals. Contact us to learn how we can help you access CITB funding and the training you need to succeed in the construction industry.
