CIOB apprenticeships graded 'expected standard' in its first Ofsted inspection

The Chartered Institute of Building (CIOB) has said Ofsted graded its apprenticeship courses "expected standard" after an inspection in September 2026, the first inspection the professional body has been subject to since it became a training provider in 2024.

CIOB said the grade appears as green on the report card it received from the education regulator. Under Ofsted's report card system, the regulator's own guidance says it no longer gives a single overall judgement such as "good" or "outstanding", and that expected standard means a provider is doing everything it should be doing.

Dr Victoria Hills, CEO at CIOB, said: "We are extremely proud our apprenticeships training has been recognised by Ofsted to be of the expected standard, especially when we're still in the relatively early days of being an apprenticeships provider."

She said the grading reflected the work of the institute's apprenticeships team in building courses that were flexible and aligned to real jobs and the skills employers want.

The courses

CIOB's announcement lists six apprenticeships, running from the Level 3 Construction Support Technician to a Level 6 BSc Design and Construction Management Degree Apprenticeship validated by De Montfort University. The Department for Education's Find apprenticeship training register, however, shows seven apprenticeships delivered by CIOB, including Construction site supervisor at level 4, which does not appear in CIOB's own list.

All learning on CIOB's apprenticeships is online, the institute said. Apprentices must be given at least six hours a week of off-the-job time, and CIOB said the employer and learner decide between themselves which day of the week that learning happens, rather than attending on a fixed day. Intakes are in March, June and September, with flexible start dates.

The degree apprenticeship is CIOB's first degree programme. The institute said it launched the course with De Montfort University in Leicester in March 2026, with a validation event held at CIOB's Bracknell office on 25 March. It is open only to students in England and applicants do not need A-levels. Rosalind Thorpe, Director of Education and Standards at CIOB, said at the time that the classroom elements would be delivered online to give apprentices greater flexibility.

Growth since 2024

The inspection result follows a period of expansion for the institute's training arm. In a February 2026 progress update, CIOB said it had grown its apprentice numbers to 80 since launching in 2024, with apprentices progressing across six occupational standards. CIOB is on the Apprenticeships Provider and Assessment Register (APAR).

Ofsted's provider record lists CIOB as an Independent Learning Provider in Bracknell Forest. It shows the regulator carried out a monitoring visit on 30 October 2024, with the report published on 28 November 2024. Ofsted says it normally inspects further education and skills providers every four years and carries out monitoring inspections of new providers.

As of 20 October 2026, Ofsted's provider page for CIOB lists only the 2024 monitoring visit report; the September 2026 report card CIOB refers to had not yet been published there.

On the government's apprenticeship service, employers have rated CIOB "Excellent" in six reviews for the 2025/26 year.

Wider context

Hills linked the result to the labour market and government policy. She said: "At a time when news headlines are regularly talking about a million young people being out of work, there's never been a better time to showcase how rewarding construction careers can be."

She said the Prime Minister's plans for devolution and better access to vocational careers could lead more people to consider a construction apprenticeship.

CIOB's next apprenticeship intakes fall in March, June and September.