The Norfolk and Suffolk Local Skills Improvement Plan (LSIP), led by the Norfolk and Suffolk Chambers of Commerce as the designated Employer Representative Body, welcomes the publication of the government’s new statutory guidance for the next round of LSIPs and the launch of Skills England’s national ‘roadmap’ for local skills.
The updated guidance sets the framework for developing the next three-year plan, which will be approved in summer 2026 and will run through to 2029. It reinforces the central role of employers in shaping local skills systems and outlines how businesses, education providers, local authorities and wider partners must work together to address current and future workforce needs.
Dean Pierpoint, LSIP Skills Director, said “The launch of the new statutory guidance for Local Skills Improvement Plans and the Skills England ‘roadmap’ marks a crucial next step in the national skills agenda. This guidance affirms that the employer voice must remain at the heart of the skills system, reinforcing the mandate for our business-led approach. As the Employer Representative Body, the Norfolk and Suffolk Chambers of Commerce are committed to driving this change through the collaborative work we are leading with businesses, providers, and stakeholders to ensure a resilient and skilled workforce for Norfolk and Suffolk.”
The Norfolk and Suffolk LSIP will now begin gathering insights with employers across priority sectors, alongside colleges, independent training providers, universities, councils and strategic economic partners, to map current provision and shape practical actions that will support alongside economic growth, productivity and opportunity.
The plan encourages businesses of all sizes to engage with the LSIP process. Insight from small and medium-sized enterprises, which make up the majority of the region’s economy, will be particularly important in identifying skills barriers and ensuring that training provision is relevant, flexible and responsive.
Local areas know best how to tackle the unique skills needs of their communities and economies. LSIPs are vital for making this a reality, with Employer Representative Bodies working alongside Strategic Authorities to lead on development tailored to Norfolk and Suffolk’s specific challenges and opportunities. These local plans provide in-depth insight on skill needs across the region, from supporting people at every stage of progress in employment through to postgraduate level 8, and the actions required to meet them.
By tailoring skills training to local needs, LSIPs will remove barriers to opportunity and ensure businesses and communities across England have access to the skilled workforce they need.
Businesses, training providers and stakeholders across Norfolk and Suffolk are encouraged to engage with the LSIP process to help shape the future skills landscape of the region. For more information about the Norfolk and Suffolk LSIP, please visit: https://norfolkchamber.co.uk/homepage/norfolk-and-suffolk-lsip.
