The new Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland Skills Improvement Plan will make sure local training equips people with the skills needed by local employers.
The three year plan will provide detailed insight and analysis into which economic sectors and jobs need to be prioritised for the area – to ensure training meets local businesses’ needs and tackles key issues including youth unemployment.
Other priorities include addressing the growing demand for AI skills and training up young people to work in green energy.
There is also a need to support SMEs working within the city of Leicester’s diverse, to ensure they can play a big part in economic growth.
East Midlands Chamber has the DWP contract to run the Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland (LLR) plan until 2029.
Its success depends on collaboration, so the actions committed to with universities, colleges and independent training providers are not just aspirational – they are mutually agreed with business to meet their specifgic needs.
The plan also has an important role to play in delivering the Government’s ambition for two-thirds of young people to participate in higher level learning – either academic, technical, or an apprenticeship – by the time they are aged 25.
Skills England is the executive agency, backed by the Department for Work and Pensions, to create better skills for better jobs, enabling growth and opportunity.
Its chair Phil Smith said: “The Local Skills Improvement Plans give areas a clear roadmap that will help create better skills for better jobs all across the country.
“These LSIPs, alongside the emerging sector jobs plans and the other stakeholder dialogues we are having, is helping us build a much better picture of the skills needs throughout the nation.
“Skills England is excited to play a key role in that journey, so that employers and learners can benefit in local communities.”
Businesses in Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland can sign up here and see:
- A breakdown of the local employment scene, the types of job opportunities out there and the skills needed to fill them.
- Contact details for the key skills providers – colleges, universities and private training suppliers.
- Projected figures for jobs growth, current and future skills demand and the types of local businesses
The Local Skills Improvement Plan has five key priorities:
- Working together to determine what skills the region needs
- Getting trainees and graduates ready for the world of work
- Strengthening digital and AI training
- Developing green skills for Net Zero
- Making sure skills provision is flexible and inclusive, supporting businesses in under-representative communities,
Businesses can help shape local skills priorities by sharing their views and workforce needs through the Chamber’s engagement programme. Together, we can build a skills system that supports economic growth, business success and opportunity for everyone at: https://tinyurl.com/562j26cn.
Further and higher education providers contributing to the plan include: Leicester College; Loughborough College Group; De Montfort University; University of Leicester; Loughborough University; North Warwickshire College and South Leicestershire College; and Wyggeston and Queen Elizabeth I Sixth Form College.
