Minister and employers welcome progress by Local Skills Improvement Plan
EXCHANGING KNOWLEDGE: Delegates at the latest HEY LSIP quarterly forum held at Bishop Burton College
By Rick Lyon, Co-Editor
A plan which sets out to place businesses at the heart of Hull and East Yorkshire’s local skills system has been endorsed by employers and the Government after publishing its latest review.
The HEY Local Skills Improvement Plan (LSIP) was recognised as being “a valuable source of information for local skills deliverers, employers and stakeholders” by Skills Minister the Rt Hon Baroness Smith of Malvern.
Employers said the LSIP provides an important opportunity to contribute to discussions about regional skills needs and to support strategic skills development.
Hannah Crookes, project lead for the LSIP, said the feedback recognises the progress made by the organisation since it was set up in September 2022.
She said: “Engagement and collaboration between all the stakeholders has increased. There has been some great work in the past and we are building on that with valuable exchanges of knowledge at all levels – working groups, forums, board meetings and outside the formal sessions.
“Going forward we will continue to strengthen the partnerships locally and with the other LSIPs nationwide, working closely particularly around such issues as workforce recruitment and retention in further education, on development of education and teaching professionals and with training providers to understand their technical education uptake and consider what needs to happen next with that.”
The HEY LSIP team is led by the Hull and Humber Chamber of Commerce and is one of 38 around the country. It has identified its five priority sectors as construction, engineering construction, manufacturing, agri-skills and health and social care and set up working groups for each one.
The LSIP has also identified its key themes of technical skills, educational professionals, employability and behaviours, careers guidance and accessibility and has organised quarterly forums to discuss the various issues around them.
PROGRESS: Beth Curtis, Bishop Burton College’s vice-principal business development and Riseholme campus
The latest event at Bishop Burton College put the spotlight on careers guidance with presentations by the National Careers Service and the Work-wise Foundation, with delegates also able to study some of the high-tech innovations at the college.
Beth Curtis, the college’s vice-principal business development and Riseholme campus, said: “We were pleased to host this event to progress on the LSIP and showcase some of the equipment used across the college including our anaerobic digester, solar powered landscaping and line marking equipment and VR equipment.
“Many thanks to everyone who attended to support and to discover how we can use this cutting-edge tech to move forward together to build a truly sustainable future for our region.”
Adam Rhodes , head of partnerships at Connexin Academy, said: “We have actively supported the LSIP by attending forums, contributing to discussions around regional skills needs, and offering insights as members of the board and working groups. This reflects our commitment to shaping a sustainable and skilled workforce for the future of the local area.”
Mark Boothby, joint managing director of Sewell Construction, said: “The LSIP provides a fantastic opportunity to link employer needs with strategic skills development, as well as a network across sector employers to find out what different businesses are doing.
“The principle of bringing people together to share knowledge and ideas on the established themes to shape a positive outcome in skill development is incredibly valuable. I can see the benefits and potential impact in the long term from the initiatives and showcasing that I’ve been a part of, supporting and enabling people with a skill base that is fit for the current and future needs.”
Baroness Smith said: “I welcome the publication of the Local Skills Improvement Plan Progress Report for Hull and East Yorkshire. 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 next HEY LSIP quarterly forum will take place on Friday, December 6, with the venue to be announced nearer the date. To find out more visit https://www.heylsip.com/