Businesses invited to contribute to new local skills plan

Lancashire's three chambers of commerce are encouraging businesses to help shape the future of technical skills provision in the county.

A comprehensive programme of consultation events has been organised ahead of the launch of the Lancashire Local Skills Improvement Plan (LSIP).

The North & Western Lancashire Chamber of Commerce, working in partnership with the East Lancashire Chamber and supported by Lancaster Chamber will lead the creation of the plan on behalf of the Department of Education.

They are hoping to engage with and gather evidence from more than 10,000 organisations from a range of skills areas including manufacturing, services, transport and distribution, energy and environmental, construction, internationalisation, digitisation, net zero, sales and marketing, and HR.

Babs Murphy, CEO of the North and Western Lancashire Chamber of Commerce, said: "The involvement of the business community is key to the success of this project. Without the contribution of business leaders, owners and managers, we cannot truly represent the needs of local employers.

"This is a once in a generation opportunity to ensure the technical courses provided by our local colleges match the needs of local employers."

Local Skills Improvement Plans (LSIPs) were proposed as elements of the government’s Skills for Jobs White Paper, published in January 2021, which is now referred to as the Skills Accelerator. It also includes the Strategic Development Fund (SDF), a £65m investment to help colleges in the implementation of some of the strategic priorities set out in the local skills improvement plan. In Lancashire, the SDF will be led by Myerscough College on behalf of The Lancashire Colleges (TLC).

Lancashire’s plan will be submitted to the Department of Education by March 31 2022 to help the government determine whether Local Skills Improvement Plans is the best method to shape UK skills provision.

Information on the events can be found at the dedicated Lancashire Local Skills Improvement Plan website at www.lancashirelsip.co.uk.

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