LOCAL Skills Improvement Plans were introduced as a key part of the government’s vision of an adult skills system where businesses are given a much stronger voice in local skills planning. Northamptonshire Chamber of Commerce, working in conjunction with both Milton Keynes and Bedfordshire Chambers, are the designated lead for the development of the region’s LSIP.
The aim of the LSIP is to place employers at the heart of the skills system and the Chamber’s role will be to consult with employers, training providers and other stakeholders to articulate their skills needs.
Employer opinions are a cornerstone of LSIPs, which will be made into statutory requirements to shape skills provision over the next three years.
As way of a background, the government’s Skills for Jobs White Paper set out an employer-led approach aimed at making Post-16 Further Education provision more responsive to local skills needs and ultimately local economic needs.
As part of this new approach, the Chambers of Commerce in our region have been asked by the Department for Education to work in partnership with a range of stakeholders to develop the local LSIP, with the intention of giving employers a stronger voice in shaping local skills provision through closer working with FE providers, engaging effectively with local leaders and other stakeholders and forging a stronger and more dynamic partnership between employers and FE providers that will enable provision to be more responsive to skills needs of employers in local labour markets.
LSIPs will do this by providing a clear articulation of future skills need and setting out the priorities for change in local provision that will help people develop the skills they need to get good jobs and increase prospects.
Louise Wall pictured left, chief executive of Northamptonshire and Milton Keynes Chambers of Commerce, says: “Government recognises that employers know what is needed for their businesses and, through the Local Skills Improvement Plan, the Chambers across our region will be diligently gathering the information and then presenting a ‘living’ report that identifies the true needs of employers and maps out a plan that can deliver the skills provision that businesses require.
“We also have great links with our education providers, trade bodies and local authorities so it is exciting to be working with them on the LSIP and to be speaking to businesses of all sizes and sectors on what their skills needs are.”
We are inviting organisations from all sectors to share their views on the current and future skills landscape in our region. We want to hear from as many employers and stakeholders as possible – your opinions will help shape our region’s future skills provision.
If your business has had challenges upskilling your current workforce; or you simply have ideas about how employers and training providers can work collaboratively; this is your chance to share your experience and help generate positive change.
To have your voice is heard, scan the QR code to complete the online survey.
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‘Improvements need to be made aross the whole employer-education section’
THE Bedford College Group has hosted a series of Local Skills Improvement Plan events run by Chambers of Commerce in Northamptonshire and Bedfordshire.
Employers from a range of sectors in Northamptonshire pictured top, main picture attended Tresham College in Corby, part of The Bedford College Group, and heard how the LSIP events would feed back information to the government about what changes were needed in further education to meet skills demands.
Robin Webber-Jones pictured left, principal of Tresham College, said: “Our links with locally-based companies large and small is already good but we recognise that improvements need to be made across the whole employer-education section.
“Hopefully these events will lead to Local Skills Improvement Funding which can support close links between teachers and trainers and industry and employers.”
From these meetings information will be channelled to the Department for Education to shape plans for future funding. So far 2,000 comments have been collected from employers across the SEMLEP region of Northamptonshire, Bedfordshire and Milton Keynes