St Helens Chamber has welcomed new proposals which outline plans to pilot Local Skills Improvement Plans (LSIPs) to ensure that post-16 education and training meets the needs of employers.

The proposals come from the from the Department of Education and were released today.

Tracy Mawson, Chief Executive at St Helens Chamber has been part of national working group about the plans and welcomes the potential for the initiative to be trail-blazed in the Liverpool City Region.

Tracy comments: “We welcome these plans to put the needs of businesses at the heart of the further education system. Employers don’t currently have enough influence over the skills provision offered in their local area and his is something we think could really assist firms who tell us regularly they struggle to find people with the right skills.

“In other countries, such as Germany and the Netherlands, there is much stronger employer influence over skills, facilitated through their national Chamber networks.

“As local businesses look to rebuild in the years ahead, it is essential to ensure that the right digital, technical and broader skills and training provision is in place to support them to grow, succeed and create good jobs.

“St Helens Chamber already plays a leading role in developing local skills, so we welcome the opportunity to assist in shaping a Local Skills Improvement Plan that reflect the needs of firms, by working closely with businesses, colleges, councils and other partners.”

Full details on the government’s Skills for Jobs White Paper, which outlines the full plans, can be found at gov.uk/government/publications/skills-for-jobs-lifelong-learning-for-opportunity-and-growth