Phase 1 of the Norfolk and Suffolk Local Skills Improvement Plan (LSIP) outlined the key skills required across our region’s vital sectors and offered a strategic roadmap to tackle skill shortages. As the Employer Representative Body (ERB), Norfolk Chambers, in partnership with Suffolk Chamber of Commerce, have successfully united employers, education and training providers, and local authorities to ensure that businesses are at the forefront of our regional skills agenda.
In Phase 1, the LSIP identified that the key priorities were:
- Skills provision mapping needed to be easy to navigate.
- There need to be a region-wide offer for Soft and Digital skills training.
- Private sector funding was needed for Net-Zero training.
- A common language was needed between providers and employers to address the perceived barriers.
Having identified the key challenges, in Phase 1 of the LSIP, this then resulted in an invitation from the Department for Education (DfE), for our region’s colleges to bid for £4.7m via the Local Skills Improvement Fund (LSIF) to help address them. The bid was successful and a whole range of projects are now underway across Suffolk and Norfolk, addressing priorities outlined in the LSIP. This work is being led by Suffolk New College.
In July 2023 another bid for Phase 2 was submitted to the DfE, which was successful. Phase 2 of the LSIP commenced in September 2023 and continued to build on the success of Phase 1. The key objectives for Phase 2 of the LSIP included:
- Ongoing employer engagement
- Embedding the LSIP process in the local skills system
- Galvanise collaborative action with employers, providers and local stakeholders to support the delivery of the actionable priorities and the roadmap set out in the LSIP
- Keep the LSIP reviewed and report annually to the DfE
- Achieve better alignment of the local skills system with employer needs and help to sustain the alignment long-term
Employer Engagement – across Norfolk and Suffolk, the Chambers have held a whole series of events to capture employer the voice. Engagement Groups and employer forums have also been convened in order to hear from micro businesses to the large corporates, gathering case studies and feedback and embedding the employer voice across the wider skills landscape.
A Signed MOU – between Norfolk and Suffolk Chambers of Commerce and the Norfolk and Suffolk County Council’s Skills Hub, who have jointly agreed a set of common goals and the process for collaboratively achieving them – something completely new and unique for Norfolk and Suffolk that will shape the local skills eco-system and provide a catalyst for change.
Training Provision has been Mapped – Initial mapping of training provision across Norfolk and Suffolk has been completed and an ongoing review is underway with Further Education, Higher Education and the independent training providers to ensure as much as possible is captured.
Delivery of a Programme Digital & Soft Skills Courses – Working with the providers, there is now consistent delivery of a programme of bite-sized courses in digital and soft skills across all five of the Norfolk and Suffolk colleges and via independent training providers with over 50 courses to choose from. LSIP employer feedback has also helped shape Skills Bootcamps.
Sector Groups & Employer Champions – working in collaboration with existing sector groups has allowed the LSIP to be embedded in each of their agendas, helping to bring greater voice for business need. The LSIP is identifying employer ‘skills champions’ – these are our LSIP Keystone Employers and will be the vocal advocates for their particular sectors. Many of these have already been identified, but the LSIP is keen to engage as many employers as possible. For more information and to find out how to get involved click here.
Approved Norfolk & Suffolk LSIP – Phase 2 (June 2024)
Approved Norfolk & Suffolk LSIP – Phase 1 (May 2023)
Norfolk & Suffolk LSIP Phase 1 – Appendix B (May 2023)
