Welcome to the first edition of this e-bulletin, updating you on development of the Essex LSIP. Further information is available on our website and you can also email us at lsip@essexchambers.co.uk. This update includes general skills news, so please get in touch if you have any to share.

The Essex Chambers of Commerce is delighted to announce that we have been chosen by the Department for Education as lead for delivering the Essex LSIP, covering Essex, Southend and Thurrock.

The LSIP’s are being developed across England to provide employers with a voice and gain a perspective of the skills they need. We will be working with local employers and partners over the coming weeks and months to develop a plan to capture the skills needs and to identify the action-based solutions required to enable local colleges and skills providers to effectively meet that need.

In order to develop a clear picture of what is needed we will be reaching out to the business community via an Employers survey, one-to-one employer engagement meetings with the Chambers Employer Engagement team and Business Engagement Events – details can be found on our website. Working closely with the South East Local Enterprise Partnership (SELEP), other Chambers / Employer Representative Bodies (ERBs) and local authorities we will use the wealth of existing evidence available while also undertaking additional research – starting with an Employers survey.

We have also established an LSIP Board, which first met before Christmas and is continuing to expand. This Board will oversee development of the plan and ensure that local employers views are at the forefront. Representation also includes local authorities, colleges, providers and Job Centre Plus. Further information on the Board will be available soon.

Denise Rossiter, CEO of the Essex Chambers of Commerce said:

“The Essex Chamber of Commerce and Industry are proud to have been selected by the DfE to lead such an important agenda. Employers frequently tell us that they cannot recruit staff with the right skills for their business, this project will firmly put them in the driving seat. The LSIP will bring together employers and education providers to identify key priorities and solutions to ensure that Essex businesses get the skilled staff they need”

Andy Sparks, LSIP Director of the Essex Chambers of Commerce said:

“The time has come for a new approach to skills planning and the Essex LSIP is a fantastic opportunity for the Essex Chamber of Commerce & Industry to be at the centre of that evolution. Through this project we will bring together employers and providers to fully understand the skills needs of Essex and seek innovative solutions to bridge the gaps. We must ensure that the local workforce is equipped with the knowledge and skills needed by employers to boost our economy in these difficult times”

The plan itself will be published by the DfE by May 2023 and Essex, Southend and Thurrock authorities have recently published skills reports / strategies which will feed into this and will also be published on our website.