At the end of 2022, Essex Chambers were announced as the Employer Representative Body (ERB) to deliver the Local Skills Improvement Plan (LSIP) for Essex. After months of engagement, research and consultation steered by LSIP Director Andy Sparks, we are pleased to say that our report has been officially approved by the Secretary of State for Education. You can now view the full report and supporting annexes on our website.

LSIP’s have been developed across England to provide employers with a voice and gain a better understanding of the skills they need locally. They aim to place employers at the heart of the system and produce innovative and dynamic arrangements education providers established. Government hopes to stimulate a new way of working which enables the system to better meet the needs of employers.

We worked with local employers, partners, educators and training providers to develop a plan that captures the skills needs for Essex, Southend and Thurrock. It identifies action-based solutions which enable local colleges and skills providers to effectively meet that need.

Key findings included identifying a lack of soft skills, with communication and problem-solving a priority for employers. Although responses showed that 58% of employers were not currently looking to invest in their own training, 61% were prepared to support training providers with company visits and work placements. So even though companies feel the pinch themselves, there is an appetite in Essex to help bridge current skills gaps, which Employers are keen to close. The survey responses and feedback are included in an annex report provided to the Department for Education (DfE) and available on our website.

We would like to sincerely thank everyone who contributed their time and feedback to our surveys and engagement events. Without these conversations, we would not have been able to identify, collate and amplify the need of Essex businesses in our employer led approach.

The DfE has also confirmed stage 2 funding to enable delivery against the LSIP report and action plan contained within it. Preparations are underway to begin delivery of proposed initiatives as laid out in the report.  We aim to make the skills landscape easier to navigate as part of this.  You can read the full press release here.

Following on from the publication of the report, we are pleased to announce that Joanne Giles has joined Essex Chamber of Commerce as LSIP Project Director. Joanne will be working alongside Andy Sparks on the implementation of Phase 2 of the LSIP.