Arm’s Length Body

How much has been spent on branded goods and merchandise by the Arm’s Length Body? (b)

What items and what cost? (b)

Construction Industry Training Board (CITB)

CITB have spent £88,336.56 (inclusive of VAT) on promotional merchandise since joining DWP on 1^st April 2026. CITB has advised that some expenditure relates to branded event assets, such as roller banners and table cloths, rather than merchandise.

The largest areas of spend were exhibition bags (£8,748), branded ballpens (£8,904), metal bottles (£7,272), travel tumblers (£5,808) and other promotional materials used to support engagement activities and events. The expenditure reported by CITB formed part of the delivery of their core statutory functions as industry training bodies, including engagement with employers, learners and training providers, and support for industry events, exhibitions and skills promotion activities. The items purchased were used in connection with those activities.

Engineering Construction Industry Training Board (ECITB)

ECITB have spent £8,153.15 (inclusive of VAT) since joining DWP on 1^st April.

The largest items of spend were products and services catalogues (£1,917), strategy booklets (£755), awards trophies (£525.48), strategy and promotional roller banners (£643.80 combined), and branded clothing for the Learning & Assurance team (£361.09). Expenditure also included business cards, flyers and other printed materials used to support engagement activities and events. The expenditure reported by ECITB formed part of the delivery of their core statutory functions as industry training bodies, including engagement with employers, learners and training providers, and support for industry events, exhibitions and skills promotion activities. The items purchased were used in connection with those activities. While DWP policy does not permit expenditure on promotional merchandise because it is not considered an appropriate use of public money, the Industrial Training Boards operate under different funding arrangements. Their activities are funded predominantly through employer levies raised from their respective industries rather than through general taxation. As industry training bodies, they undertake significant engagement with employers, learners and training providers, including participation in sector events, exhibitions and skills promotion activities, where branded materials and promotional collateral are used to support the delivery of their statutory functions.

Health and Safety Executive (HSE)

£14,885. HSE does not have promotional merchandise per- se. The items in column 3 are branded stationery items that are provided on HSE’s externally facing training courses and events, to contain delegate packs, handouts etc. The cost of these items is built into the price paid by their customers/delegates, so is fully recovered via commercial revenue.

1000 Training delegate ring binders: £3,210 (Jul 25, Dec 25) 2000 Training delegate tote bags: £1,805 (Oct 25, Feb 26, Aug 26) 2500 Training and events pens: £1,525 (Dec 25, Aug 26)

Money and Pensions Service (MaPS)

£740.40 in the 2026/27 financial year to date.

Two pull-up banners: £356.42 Exhibition materials: £383.98

The Pensions Regulator (TPR)

Zero.

Zero

The Pension Ombudsman (TPO)

Zero

Zero

Skills England

Zero