The report for the second phase of the Norfolk & Suffolk Local Skills Improvement Plan (LSIP) has been endorsed by the Minister for Skills at the Department for Education. Commenting on the report, the Skills Minister, The Rt Hon Baroness Smith of Malvern said: “I welcome the publication of the Local Skills Improvement Plan Progress Report for Norfolk and Suffolk. These reports set out progress made on meeting the skills needs of local employers. As well as being a valuable source of information for local skills deliverers, employers and stakeholders, the reports along with the LSIPs themselves, will provide important intelligence for the newly established Skills England.” The Norfolk and Suffolk LSIP outlines key skills required across our region’s vital sectors and offers a strategic roadmap to tackle skill shortages. As the Employer Representative Body (ERB), Norfolk Chambers, in partnership with Suffolk Chamber of Commerce, has 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 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. Commenting on the success of a fully approved Norfolk and Suffolk LSIP for Phase 2, Nova Fairbank, CEO of Norfolk Chambers and Chair of the LSIP Board said: “Collaborating with local businesses and training providers is essential for truly understanding and meeting the skill demands of our region. The Norfolk and Suffolk LSIP has made significant progress this year, fostering relationships which support the development of training to meet the needs of employers. Norfolk Chambers has proudly led the work of the LSIP regionally and supported local businesses to position themselves for enhancing workforce development and remaining competitive.” Also commenting on progress of the LSIP and the importance of ongoing employer engagement, John Dugmore, Chief Executive of Suffolk Chamber of Commerce and Vice Chair of the LSIP Board said: “It is good to see the progress that the LSIP has made and in particular the catalytic impact of improved employer engagement. We look forward to Chambers of Commerce continuing to use their convening expertise to enable further improvement in local skills for Norfolk and Suffolk.” Collectively, the Chambers have had a busy year since Phase 2 of the LSIP commenced in August 2023. Success has included: 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. Many independent training providers (ITPs) are involved with both the sector groups across the counties and the ongoing LSIP delivery – one of these ITPs is WS Training Ltd. Kirstie Wright, their Chief Executive commented on the ongoing importance of the LSIP findings, she said: “Being a local independent training provider, we want to support the growth and expansion of the LSIP priorities across Norfolk and Suffolk and we can clearly see that there are skills deficiencies in certain industry areas which need to be addressed. The LSIP really helped identify those gaps, it has provided evidence behind why investment in training in these crucial areas is so important, and from this perspective, it has been a pivotal report, in terms of supporting the development and growth initiatives for WS Training.” Above all, both Chambers have been doing what they do best, engaging employers across Suffolk and Norfolk, from micro businesses to the large corporates, gathering case studies and feedback and embedding that employer voice across the whole skills landscape. On employer engagement, the LSIP Engagement Manager, Dean Pierpoint said: “As we present our yearly progress report, it’s clear that empowering our local businesses with the right skills is crucial for driving growth and innovation in Norfolk and Suffolk. By collaborating closely with employers, local training providers, and key stakeholders, the LSIP is a key part of bringing businesses and education closer together, targeting the specific needs of our workforce. This collaborative approach, which includes active involvement from FE and HE colleges and independent training providers, ensures employees gain valuable skills whilst strengthening our local businesses.” So what’s next for the LSIP and Chambers of Commerce? The LSIP will continue to be delivered by the Chambers of Commerce until mid-2025 and we are already looking at what comes next to build upon the success so far. There will be continued employer engagement across a wide range of sectors, not just the original priority areas. The LSIP will highlight employer ‘skills champions’ – these will be the 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. Work on the four key priority areas will be ongoing, with more research and analysis of skills need to be undertaken, as will work with education providers on curriculum development. The LSIP will continue to advocate for policies to support the alignment of the local skills system with the ongoing needs of the employers. Click here to read the Phase 2 Annual LSIP Progress Report.
