LSIPs key role hailed by government minister

Lancashire’s Local Skills Improvement Plan (LSIP) is playing a key role in bringing employers and training providers together, recent statistics have shown.

Since its launch in 2021, hundreds of county-based businesses have engaged with the LSIP, which is being ran by the North & Western Lancashire Chamber of Commerce.

In fact, 32 out of the 38 LSIPs across England are ran by Chambers of Commerce.

But improving skills and tackling labour shortages remains a priority following a meeting between Chamber chief executives and Education Secretary, Gillian Keegan.

Accessing staff with the right skills remains a challenge for many businesses. Research published by the British Chambers of Commerce Insights Unit shows that while recruitment difficulties have significantly eased, two-third of firms say they are still facing challenges hiring staff.

Lancashire’s LSIP published a report in August last year outlining the problems, and possible solutions, to recruitment and has been working with employers and training providers on a roadmap which was submitted to the Department for Education.