Local Skills Improvement Plans Progress Reports Released
Business West Chambers of Commerce has released its Local Skills Improvement Plans (LSIPs) Progress Reports for 2024.
As the dedicated Employer Representative Body (ERB) for the Gloucestershire, Swindon & Wiltshire and West of England and North Somerset LSIPs, Business West has released three reports, each detailing the relevant local area’s skills needs, and the progress made in meeting these needs since the projects began, following in depth research and work with local businesses, education and training providers, and other stakeholders.
The Minister for Skills, The Rt Hon Baroness Smith of Malvern, said:
"I welcome the publication of the Local Skills Improvement Plan Progress Reports for the West of England and North Somerset, Swindon and Wiltshire and Gloucestershire. These reports set out progress made on meeting the skills needs of local employers. As well as being a valuable source of information for local skills deliverers, employers and stakeholders, the reports along with the LSIPs themselves, will provide important intelligence for the newly established Skills England.”
Matt Tudge, Head of Skills Planning commented: “The progress reports outline the key findings so far, the priority needs of specific sectors, and what projects and initiatives are in progress, or have been completed, to meet those needs. It’s an important resource for key stakeholders and business in each area and we hope that they find it informative and useful. We’re working hard to improve the skills landscape across the three local areas and we’re looking forward to hearing more from the government on the new Skills England initiative.”
You can download the full reports here:
Key insights from the reports are also available to view in simple infographics and skills snapshots to provide stakeholders with a straightforward resource outlining the significant information on skills in each local area.
The LSIPs are now in their third year, and work is still ongoing. From September onwards, Matt Tudge, Chloe Stockwell, Project and Events Manager and Hannah Ponsford, Research Manager, will be hosting Roadmap Clinics, both in-person and virtually to discuss the priority actions for each local area.
Matt Tudge explained, “The Roadmap Clinics* are an opportunity for interested parties to discuss any ideas they have that could contribute to the roadmap of actions that are included within the progress reports, find out more about any tasks they have been assigned or seek support with starting work on them. My team and I will be holding a face-to-face clinic in each local area as well as virtual meetings to answer any questions stakeholders may have.”
It’s not too late to get involved with the LSIPs and to speak to the team about skills needs in your business and sector. There’s opportunity to receive support from experienced Business Skills Advisors via a Skills Clinic – an initial meeting to understand your skills needs, followed up by additional support. You can also sign up to a Signposting Local Provision Meeting with the Business Engagement team, who will share with you relevant training and provision specific to your business needs. Finally, with a new event programme being released, you can register to attend a variety of LSIP events or focus groups happening between now and March 2025.
*Please note, due to high demand, the West of England and North Somerset Roadmap Clinics are currently sold out. We will be booking more dates for these in due course. In the meantime, if you’d like to have a meeting sooner, please email us to book in a call with Matt, Hannah or Chloe.