Employers respond positively to Cumbria’s trailblazing Local Skills Improvement Plan
Cumbria Chamber was chosen by the Department for Education (DfE) to lead on producing a Local Skills Improvement Plan (LSIP), aimed at putting employers in the driving seat in shaping skills provision in Cumbria, as one of eight pilot areas. Our LSIP has now been submitted for evaluation and is available to view here.
What did we cover?
We looked at some level across all business sectors, but, because of time constraints, our pilot focussed on Social Care, Visitor Economy, Manufacturing & Energy, Built Economy (including Retrofit), and Land Based (including farming, forestry and nature).
Who was involved?
We’ve worked with over 1,100 employers countywide, from the smallest to the largest. Employer Representative Body (ERB) partners include BEC Business Cluster, CBI, CITB, CLA, Cumbria Tourism, Farmer Network and NFU. The Steering Group involves representatives from employers, ERBs, training providers, local authorities and the LEP.
We’ve also been working with Food Farming & Countryside Commission, Cumbria Wildlife Trust and other relevant organisations and engaging actively with colleges, other training providers, universities, local authorities, the LEP and Careers Hub, Skills for Care and others.
What’s next?
This isn’t the end of the journey. Whatever DfE decides to do moving forward, Cumbrian stakeholders – employers, ERBs, learning providers and others – are genuinely up for working together to address the issues and opportunities. The Steering Group and ERB Group will be continuing to operate, and partners will be driving forward actions highlighted in the plan. DfE intend LSIPs to be living documents, so we’ll continue to develop and update Cumbria’s over time.
Suzanne Caldwell, Managing Director of Cumbria Chamber of Commerce said: “I’m delighted with the response from employers and other stakeholders across the county who’ve proved genuinely keen to get involved and continue to work together. I’m confident this will make a real difference to Cumbria’s businesses and their employees. We’ve focussed on a practical, business-like approach, primarily about what we in the county can do together.”