‘We need your help’

‘Help us to help you’ is the message from the Chamber as the second phase of the Governmentfunded Local Skills Improvement Plan gets underway.

The Chamber was invited last year to lead the Herts LSIP, a three-year plan to look at where the skills shortages are and how they can be addressed to ensure that organisations will not face the same challenges currently being experienced in recruiting the right people.

John Woodruffe, LSIP Project Manager, said: “We are keen for employers to come forward and speak to us, to tell us the problems they are having now and what problems they can see on the horizon, whether it’s for young people entering work for the first time, or the older generation needing to learn new skills.

“A key objective of the LSIP is to connect businesses, within an industry-based framework, with the relevant colleges and training providers in the region to help codesign and empower skills highways that will give people the skills they are looking for.”

The first phase of LSIP finished earlier this year and the results of the information gathering can be read in the final report submitted to the

Department for Education that is now on the Chamber’s website.

Having established where the skills shortages lie through research and events attended by the 10 priority sectors – advanced engineering and manufacturing; community care; creative industries; digital and IT; hospitality and tourism; life sciences; logistics; professional services; property and construction; and sustainability – the stage is now set to put plans in place to educate people in the right areas.

“It’s early days, but our goal has to be more people taking up apprenticeships and more companies engaging with our colleges and university to help develop the courses that will teach the relevant skills.

“The key thing will be signposting, ensuring that a young person leaving school knows where to go for the training they need to fulfil their ambitions, whether that’s directing them to a training provider or a website. The information has to be readily available to help them plan a career path with the skills they need to succeed.

“We have less than two years to turn this around. We’ll be planning more events with businesses to tell us exactly what it is that they need.”

John is aware that reaching parents is also important to help them understand the options that are open to their sons and daughters. While there has been a move away from the belief that every child needs to go to university if they want a career, apprenticeships are still not given the respect they deserve.

“People need to think differently. Nowadays, there are many different routes for teenagers leaving school and they shouldn’t be viewed negatively for not wishing to go to university. Not everyone is suited to university and that’s OK.

The importance of the LSIP work cannot be understated. Businesses need to play their part to ensure their needs are met. Skills that were relevant 10 or 20 years ago may not be relevant now, but the training providers need to know what skills are relevant to be able to teach them. Candidates also want to know that employers are engaged in their training.

“If we don’t put plans in place now, workforces of the future are going to struggle. The outlook would be grim. This is an ongoing process and we won’t solve everyone’s problems in two years, but we can’t ignore what is happening.”

To get involved, visit https://www.hertschamber.com/lsip