Business Advice
Employer-led skills plan sets out Lancashire’ s roadmap for growth
New plans published in July will make sure local training equips people with skills needed by local employers.
A total of 39 Local Skills Improvement Plans( LSIPs), covering the upcoming three years, have been unveiled across England. They provide detailed insight and analysis into what priority economic sectors and jobs are for each given area.
The plans also explain how designated Employer Representative Bodies and Strategic Authorities, who developed the plans with support from Skills England, will work with education providers and other partners, including Job Centres, to ensure training meets local businesses’ needs and help tackle key issues including youth unemployment.
Lancashire’ s LSIP, developed by the North & Western Lancashire Chamber of Commerce, has been produced with input from over 500 employers alongside local stakeholders including the Lancashire County Combined Authority, industry trade and employer bodies, local skills providers, FE colleges and universities.
The Lancashire LSIP calls for a continuation of the positive changes to provision following the publication of the previous Plan. With economic pressures resulting in a slowing down of workforce increases for many companies across Lancashire, difficulty in finding experienced staff and a reluctance to employ younger people in early career roles, there is a focus on better engaging employers with education system and young people.
There will be continued activity to understand the support employers need in the rapidly changing digital landscape, especially AI. Social care is a particular area of focus to tackle persistent and growing skills gaps and
“ The Local Skills Improvement Plans give areas a clear roadmap that will help create better skills for better jobs all across the country.”
vacancies in this crucial sector. There will opportunities for employers of all sizes to engage across a variety of sectors and themes.
Babs Murphy, Chief Executive of the North & Western Lancashire Chamber of Commerce, said:
“ This LSIP works to support employers across all sectors of the Lancashire business community with a focus in industries that will drive growth for the local economy and opportunity for local residents.
30 | Autumn 2026