Welcome to the fourth 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.

With thanks for your feedback and input, we have now submitted the draft plan to the DfE. Their feedback is expected soon and the final copy will be published in July. Whilst contents remain confidential for now, we can share broad headlines. They are:

• Essex Sector Priorities and Technical Skills – There are a wide range of employers in Essex from small and medium sized (SME’s) to nationally significant projects like Thames Freeport, Freeport East and the Lower Thames Crossing. Priority sectors include Construction and the Built Environment; Digitech; Health & Care; Education; Advanced Manufacturing and Transport and Logistics. Deep dives on such sectors will be carried out in the coming months.
• Essex Skills Priorities – Employers said that soft-skills and behaviours; basic English, Maths and English as a Foreign Language (EOSL); Digital; Green and Leadership and Management skills were most in demand. More clarity on how to support inclusive employment was also required.
• Skills System Priorities –  Employers said that that there was a lack of flexibility in the skills system; Information, Advice and Guidance (IAG) was not always effective; there are significant tutor shortages; There were barriers to engagement and overall, the skills planning system locally needs simplifying, to support Essex employers meet their skills needs.

Employers informed some of the emerging recommendations in the Essex LSIP. These included:

• Re-establish an employer-led Employment and Skills Board (ESB) providing strategic leadership for skills in Essex.
• Establish sector and cross-cutting task and finish groups to support LSIP delivery.
• Map out skills provision currently available and ensure employers are aware of what’s available.
• Develop a regularly updated Labour Market Information (LMI) resource to help inform skills provision.
• Produce sector-deep dives which support and inform delivery.
• Review and improve access to existing skills provision.
• Work with the local skills system and key stakeholders e.g., Greater Essex Careers Hub, to provide effective and current careers advice.
• Build on SELEP work underway across three LSIP areas to build solutions to key skills challenges, including Tutor shortages in Essex.

More detail about these priorities and the actions underpinning them will be shared when the final Essex LSIP is published. Do keep a look out.