Skills priorities report presented to education providers

Difficulties with recruitment and problems with skills have been highlighted in a report sent to further education establishments across Lancashire.

The LSIP Emerging Priorities report was approved and published at the end of March and highlights what is needed to improve the skills gap in the county.

It forms part of a legally binding accountability report which colleges, universities and all training providers must adhere to during the Local Skills Improvement Plan process.

Working in collaboration with employers, skills providers, and other local stakeholders the LSIP will help develop and co-ordinate solutions to these problems.

The North & Western Lancashire Chamber of Commerce is lead employer representative body designated to deliver the LSIP in Lancashire, supported by the East Lancashire and Lancaster & District Chambers, and working with range of local stakeholders and national trade bodies.

The report looked at months of activities throughout the LSIP process and included all the sectors represented which contribute to the Lancashire economy.

These include construction, transport & distribution, services, manufacturing and hospitality, leisure and tourism focus groups, plus roundtable events on employability skills, farming & agriculture and low carbon and sustainability.

Hundreds of employers and providers have also answered a skills and workplace survey over the past few months, while the LSIP engagement team has taken part in one-to-one interviews with employers and key stakeholders.

Geoff Mason, LSIP project lead, said: “This report shares with providers the responses from employers and highlights the main issues around getting people in key roles with the right skills.

“Using the feedback from local employers, using LMI data provided by the Lancashire Skills & Employment Hub, and referring to regional and national trends, providers are tasked with detailing their response to employer needs.

“The Emerging Priorities report represents an important part of the LSIP process which will help instruct applications to new funding streams such as the Local Skills Improvement Fund (LSIF), skills bootcamps and the UK Shared Prosperity Fund (SPF).”