Progress report highlights successful response to employers’ workforce development needs
Dorset Chamber has published the first progress report reflecting the work and development of the Dorset Skills community in response to the initial LSIP published in August 2023.
Funded by the UK Government via the Department for Education, the Dorset Chamber has developed one of 38 local change plans across England to more closely align apprenticeships and funded training provision for all ages with the specific needs of local businesses. The progress reflects a year of change in the local skills landscape, driven by worker and employer needs and new strategic partnerships and collaborative education initiatives.
Minister for Skills, the Rt Hon Baroness Smith of Malvern, said: “I welcome the publication of the Local Skills Improvement Plan Progress Report for Dorset. 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.”
Identified by the LEP’s Dorset Skills Board as high need, growth and innovation sectors, the LSIP focuses on the skills needs in the sectors of: Health and Social Care, Advanced Manufacturing and Engineering, Construction, Digital Tech and Creative, and Agriculture, Agri-tech and Aquaculture. It also reflects cross sector skills needs – Net Zero, leadership and management and digital.
The progress report highlights how identified employer asks are being met throughout the county. Significant projects funded through the Local Skills Improvement Fund (LSIF) which align with the priorities of the LSIP feature within the report.
A new Modern Methods of Construction (MMC) Centre is now in place at Weymouth College and a new green construction centre will be opened within the Bournemouth and Poole College campus in Poole before Christmas 2024.
Paul Read, Director of Sustainability and Investment, Magna Housing said: “Since the LSIP process started in late 2022, Magna has been pleased to contribute to the research and to defining potential actions. The LSIF funding awarded to deliver new training resources has been a huge step forward. Energising a local MMC community to be part of the course content development.”
The reports demonstrates that in all areas partners are working hard to promote the advantages of a more diverse workforce. Schools and colleges are raising the aspirations of SEND young people. In 2022/3 nearly 40 young people with special educational needs and disabilities were participating in a Supported Internship programme. These are now offered at all Further Education colleges as well as SWRAC Specialist College, Dorset’s largest provider.
Nicola Newman, Dorset Chamber’s LSIP Project Lead and Chair of the LEP’s Skills Board stated. “In the last year all our partners have seriously considered the findings and recommendations in our first report and responded in numerous new ways to meet employee and employer needs. Those joining the local workforce in the next few weeks and years are crucial to our economic and social prosperity, they need to be nurtured and celebrated.”
Commenting on Dorset’s current skills Iandscape, Ian Girling, Chief Executive Officer said: “All businesses should be maximising the benefits of English-funded post-16 technical education, training, and employment support to secure the workforce they need. There are many vacant roles to be filled in Dorset, and many people of all ages seeking a secure job who are willing to train or retrain. Dorset Chamber will continue to advocate for skills funding and more housing, public transport and childcare capacity too. If you need help and support to grow and develop your workforce, or want to be part of this change process, please do get in touch.”
It comes as the reforms to the apprenticeships system in England were announced at the Labour Party conference in a bid to boost opportunities for young people and close critical skills gaps, including a new growth and skills levy to replace the existing apprenticeship levy.
The announcement came alongside the first report from newly created government body Skills England setting out the key skills challenges that limit growth and opportunity as well as skills needs in the economy.
Melanie Collins, who is head of Local Skills Improvement Plans at the Department for Education, will be appearing at the Dorset Business Festival Conference on Wednesday 9th October in Bournemouth.
She will be speaking about skills, the future workforce and LSIPs on a panel at the Dorset Chamber organised event.
The full Dorset report can be found here: https://dorsetchamber.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/Dorset-LSIP-Progress-Report_June-2024.pdf
All 38 regional reports can be accessed here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/designated-employer-representative-bodies/notice-of-designated-employer-representative-bodies
More details about the Dorset Business Festival Conference are here: https://dorsetchamber.co.uk/business-as-a-force-for-good-conference/
ENDS