The need to embed future business skills needs and ensure business engagement within our education system has never been more relevant.
Experience over recent years, has shown that the education establishments have finite resources and limited time within their curriculum to engage with additional enterprise activities.
Ultimately, without a change in the national education curriculum to become more enterprise/business focussed, there is limited incentive for schools to become more enterprise focussed. However, the recent Skills White Paper and the ongoing development of Local Skills Improvement Plans (LSIPs) are bringing about changes.
The ask from the Department for Education is for Norfolk and Suffolk to develop an LSIP. In collaboration with Suffolk Chamber we are applying to become the designated Employer Representative Body for this region’s LSIP. The application deadline is 06 June 2022, with the successful ERB due to be announced in the Autumn.
Meanwhile, Norfolk Chambers continues to work with its members and key stakeholders to bridge the skills gap:
- We’re a member on the New Anglia Skills Advisory Panel
- Largest Kickstart Gateway in Norfolk – supporting employers and young people
- We actively support the development of apprenticeships
- Promotion and support of the DWP’s activity around their various upskill and return to work schemes, including ‘Way to Work’
- Member of the Steering Group for Norfolk & Suffolk Skills & Careers Festival
- We are part of the HMP Norwich Employment Advisory Board
- We support the Norwich for Jobs Initiative
