The West of England Plus Local Skills Improvement Plan Trailblazer was led by Business West Chambers of Commerce and funded by the Department for Education. Local Skills Improvement Plans (LSIPs) were introduced in the Skills for Jobs White Paper in January 2021 and the Business West team delivered the pilot from November 2021 – March 2022.
Watch our 5-min Executive Summary video:
The Skills for Jobs white paper set out the government’s blueprint for reshaping the technical skills system to better support the needs of the local labour market and the wider economy.
The LSIPs are truly employer-led and locally owned; they give local areas the flexibility to innovate and tailor approaches to their specific needs. The West of England Plus LSIP aimed to:
- Bring employers, colleges, independent training providers, and other local stakeholders together.
- Set out the key changes needed to make technical skills training more responsive to employers’ skills need.
- Tailor provision to the challenges and opportunities most relevant to the region.
- Work closely with the West of England Combined Authority and the Skills Advisory Panel.
The Skills and Post-16 Education Bill are currently passing through Parliament and will provide a statutory foundation for local skills improvement plans. Over the next four years, the government is investing millions of pounds into development and training provision. As part of the West of England Plus LSIP, we reached out to businesses of all sizes in the Aerospace, Advanced Engineering and Health and Social Care sectors on where this money should be invested and how training and education should be delivered to feedback to the Department for Education.
To get involved with the West of England Plus LSIP, businesses could choose to feedback via a short interview, an online survey, a remote Q&A or at one of our focus group events. In these sessions, we facilitated an in-depth discussion on the basis of the following question themes:
- How do you plan to grow your business?
- What support do you need to grow in terms of finances, facilities, and staffing?
- What are your current training procedures?
- What types of technology does your team use and need for your roles?
- Do you have a net zero or sustainability plan?
Over the three months delivery period of the pilot project, we hosted 15 events (and attended many more!), we received over 50 survey responses and we conducted over 110 interviews.
Make your voice heard and plant a tree
For every event attended, survey completed or interview conducted as part of the LSIP Trailblazer, we have planted a tree with our partner Ecologi in a UK forest. We have planted a total of 300 trees so far.
As part of the Trailblazer pilot, we collaborated with our B-Corp partner, Ecologi, to plant an LSIP forest. Business West has already planted over 20,000 trees with Ecologi and offset more than 1,000 tonnes of CO2. You can track our LSIP progress here - we've planted 300 trees so far!
We have sent the location of each tree using the app whatthreewords to the survey and interview respondents so one day they can visit their tree and watch it grow.
Events
LSIP Focus Group Events
We are hosting a variety of small focus groups and roundtable events from January until March 2022 via Zoom and Microsoft Teams. The events should last approximately 1 hour and in the session you will be able to network and share best practice with other organisations in your industry and region.
Past Events
West of England Plus Local Skills Improvement Plan Q&A
On Monday 11th April we released our full West of England Plus Local Skills Improvement Plan Trailblazer report. Watch the recording of this session where we discussed our findings and recommendations for both the Aerospace & Advanced Engineering and Social Care sectors, as well as next steps and the rollout of LSIPs moving forward.
Jet Zero Hydrogen and Skills
Wednesday 26th January 2022
Online: Zoom
Started at 10:00am
Ended at 12:30pm
Free, invitation-only*
*Limited to two representatives per company
On Wednesday 26th January we hosted Jet Zero Hydrogen and Skills in partnership with WEAF. Our keynote speakers were Katy Milne, Head of Industrial Strategy for ATI’s FlyZero team and Lahiru Ranasinghe, Senior Strategy Manager at easyjet .
During this event, we heard from key partners involved in product development, the rollout of infrastructure and uptake of hydrogen pan-sector and we gained valuable insight on how hydrogen is playing a key role in the aerospace sector's journey to net zero. Our speaker sessions included Trudie Savage FRAeS, Head of Powerplant, Hydrogen & Hydromechanical Systems Test at Airbus, Claire Arbery, Director at The West of England Institute of Technology and Alan S M Robinson, CEO of Smart Ports Ltd .
Registration for this event has closed. However, we have recorded the full session, please click below to view the recording.
Digitalisation of the Aviation Sector
Wednesday 9th February 2022
iAero Facility, Yeovil
Started at 10:00am
Ended at 1:00pm
Free, invitation-only
Digitalisation of the Aviation Sector was an exclusive roundtable session, jointly hosted by Heart of the South West Local Enterprise Partnership Sustainable Aviation Board, Business West, Leonardo and Yeovil College. This was an in-depth discussion of how digitalisation is currently being utilised in the sector, the future impact, and how it will support future technologies.
Registration for this event has closed. If you have any questions about the topics covered or if you are interested in viewing any slides from the day, please get in touch below.
Challenges in Home Care: A Roadmap For Change
Thursday 10th February 2022
Online, MS Teams
During the event, businesses had the opportunity to network, discuss career pathways and what’s needed to recruit and retain staff for longer, as well as share best practice with organisations like them in the region. On 10th February we hosted Challenges in Home Care: A Roadmap For Change, an exclusive invitation-only focus group event with likeminded businesses in the region to discuss the changing career pathways and what’s needed to improve staff recruitment and retention.
Registration for this event has closed. If you have any questions about the topics covered, please get in touch below.
The Future of Sustainable Flight, in collaboration with Future Leap
Friday 25th February 2022
Online, Zoom
With the aviation industry rapidly decarbonising, this event centred around a discussion on how the sector and regional businesses will be affected, as well as the future workforce needs. We heard from key players in the Aerospace industry on where government money should be invested and how training and education should be delivered in relation to decarbonisation.
Registration for this event has closed. If you have any questions about the topics covered, please get in touch below.
The Future of a Sustainable Social Care System, in collaboration with Future Leap
Monday 28th March 2022
Online, Zoom
Started at 10:00am
Ended at 11:15am
Invitation-only
All organisations need to rapidly decarbonise if we are to meet our climate and sustainability commitments. This event centred around a discussion on how the Social Care sector and regional businesses will be affected, as well as the future workforce needs. We heard from key players in the care industry on where government money should be invested and how training and education should be delivered in relation to Net Zero.
Registration for this event has closed. If you have any questions about the topics covered, please get in touch below.
The Future of Advanced Engineering, in collaboration with Future Leap
Monday 28th March 2022
Online, Zoom
With the advanced engineering industry rapidly decarbonising, this event centred around a discussion on how the sector and regional businesses will be affected, as well as the future workforce needs. We heard from key players in the Advanced Engineering industry on where government money should be invested and how training and education should be delivered in relation to decarbonisation.
Registration for this event has closed. If you have any questions about the topics covered, please get in touch below.
The Social Care Sector: Recruitment and Retention
Thursday 3rd March 2022
Leigh Court, Bristol
Starts at 10:00am
Ends at 12:30pm
Invitation-only
Join us for "The Social Care Sector: Recruitment and Retention", an exclusive invitation-only event, on Thursday 3rd March in collaboration with Western Training Provider Network. This event will discuss pathways in, pathways up and building routes of progression that attract and retain talent. More information to be announced soon.
West of England Skills: Collaboration, Co-Design and The Future
Monday 14th March 2022
Clevedon Hall, Bristol
West of England Skills: Collaboration, Co-Design and The Future took place at Clevedon Hall, on Monday 14th March event in collaboration with the West of England Institute of Technology. During this event, our array of speakers led discussions on how we, as a region, can work together more effectively to understand skills gaps, integrate skills and prepare for the future.
The Local Skills Improvement Plan (LSIP): Collaborative Skills and Co-design for the Future
Tuesday 15th March 2022
University of Gloucestershire Business School, Oxstalls Campus
Started at 09:30am
Ended at 1:30pm
Invitation-only
Business West Chambers of Commerce and GFirst LEP (Gloucestershire Local Enterprise Partnership) led discussions to review the initial findings of the Local Skills Improvement Plan (LSIP) trailblazer for West of England Plus. During the event, the delegation discussed findings so far, how they can be meaningfully incorporated into delivery, and what the LSIP rollout may mean in the future for design and delivery of education and training that reflects the needs of the region’s businesses.
Digitalisation of the Social Care Sector
Postponed
Online: MS Teams
Starts at 10:00am
Ends at 11:15am
Digitalisation of the Social Care Sector is an exclusive invitation-only focus group event with likeminded businesses in the region to discuss skills needed and career pathways with the digitalisation of the social care sector. This event has been postponed. Interested in getting involved with the rescheduled date? Email our team at LSIP@businesswest.co.uk and we will reserve you a space.
Collaboration and Co-Design: West of England Plus LSIP
Thursday 17th March 2022
Engineers House, Bristol
Started at 09.30am
Ended at 13.00 (including lunch)
On Thursday 17th March we hosted "Collaboration and Co-Design: West of England Plus LSIP", an exclusive invitation-only event for Training Providers in the region. In collaboration with Western Training Provider Network, this event provided our delegation an opportunity to discuss the initial findings from industry via the West of England Plus Local Skills Improvement Plan (LSIP) and what this may mean for co-design of training going forward, and as part of the levelling up and devolution agendas.
Collaborating for the Future of Skills
Thursday 24th March 2022
Future Leap Hub, Bristol
Started at 5.30pm
Ended at 7.30pm
An evening of celebration and evaluation for the West of England Plus regional skills projects. Business West, one of eight Chambers of Commerce across England that has been leading on new Local Skills Improvement Plan (LSIP) pilot for the West of England Plus, hosted an evening of celebration and evaluation of their findings. Jointly hosted by Business West, the West of England Combined Authority and the West of England Institute of Technology this event:
- Shared progress and findings from the the LSIP Trailblazer
- Discussed next steps towards ensuring businesses receive the support they need that has been raised in the LSIP Trailblazer
- Celebrated the voices of the businesses the LSIP Trailblazer has engaged with
Adult Social Care Resilience Programme
We are offering SMEs in the Social Care Sector in the West of England the chance to take part in an intensive business support programme.
The Workforce for the Future Adult Social Care Resilience Programme provides in-depth, tailored support and strategic consultation to help your business plan and adapt for the future by identifying your current and future workforce skills needs.
We have a number of events coming up in February and March 2022 including ‘Wellbeing in Action, ‘Developing your digital technology for Adult Social Care’ and ‘Developing you as a Leader or Manager in Adult Social Care’.
Business West is delivering Workforce for the Future in collaboration with other partners and the West of England Combined Authority. Find out more https://www.businesswest.co.uk/ASC
Meet the team
Matt Tudge
Project Manager
As LSIP Project Manager, I design and oversee the overall strategy, progress and outputs for the West of England Plus LSIP. Within my role, I ensure we are working with the most appropriate partners, speaking to as many relevant businesses as possible and adding value to everyone’s understanding of current and future skills, as well as providing opportunities for businesses to feed directly into education and training provision.
Hélène Rattin
Senior Research Analyst
I work as a senior research analyst providing market and sector insights to the LSIP Team to assist with the overall delivery of the project. Key responsibilities include analysing, synthesising, validating data integrity and delivering added value market research.
Lauren Holmes
Business Engagement Executive
As a Business Engagement Executive I act as the key link between Businesses and Skills providers as part of the LSIP project. I am responsible for gathering intelligence from businesses on their future needs from the skills sector. I assist with the interpretation and analysis of the data captured and will play a key role in LSIP events and employer roundtable discussions on the future skills landscape.
Chloe Stockwell
Events and Marketing Manager
One of my main responsibilities in the LSIP team is to circulate relevant news about the LSIP project as well as opportunities for businesses in the West of England Plus to engage with the project and be given a platform to voice their future workforce and business growth requirements. I am also responsible for designing, producing and delivering a series of events ranging from employer roundtables to industry topical conferences that align with the skills needs of our the companies in the region.
News and Updates
Join the LSIP mailing list
- I was really grateful to Business West for having a conversation with me about the opportunities available in the Care sector. I really hope that we can all work together to improve the stereotypes of the Care sector and bring on more staff with enthusiasm and excitement for the Care sector.
- I believe that the Local Skills Improvement Plan (LSIP) activities being carried out in the West of England are an exciting opportunity for people to contribute towards future growth needs in the region.
- It is crucial for employers, like ourselves, especially SMEs in the Social Care sector to have the right skills and people to ensure a resilient workforce and future. We support Business West’s bid to deliver a Trailblazer Local Skills Improvement Plan in the West of England to ensure employers voice helps shape skills provision in the region…
- Firstly, I was delighted to be given the opportunity to take part in the interviews for the LSIP project. As a local company owner and formal educationalist, I believe there is a true requirement for a clear representation to be made to support the growth and improvement of engineering organisations. I believe we need to return to the grass roots of education, to provide young people with the confidence to explore the world of engineering, with educational development set with purpose and need, opportunities and progression.
- So how do we set up a service that delivers high quality care and that is sincerely caring? We find people who are really moved by why we’re doing what we’re doing, and then we train them well, pay them well, and help them grow. We encourage people to find courses that are relevant to them and their future. It’s always a heartbreak when we lose someone who’s great because they’ve moved on to better things. But it’s also an honour to contribute to their life journey.
See our LSIP video reel
To find out more about LSIP, check out our video reel on YouTube: