Purpose

As part of the sign-off process, the statutory guidance requires that LSIPs in areas with Strategic Authorities are accompanied by a statement of support from the relevant MSA, confirming agreement with the content. The format of this statement and level of associated governance is at our discretion.

To highlight the role of the plan in helping to shape GM’s skills system response to GMS, the adult skills paper that was due to go to the May GMCA meeting included reference to the LSIP and recommended that the statement of support be delegated to the Group CEO. If approved, a joint letter will be prepared to go from GMCA and GMCC.

The final LSIP has been submitted to Skills England for review and approval by the Secretary of State for Work & Pensions. This is required ahead of Parliamentary recess in order to support the national publication timelines for LSIPs.

A substantive draft was shared by Chamber colleagues with GM system partners in March via the EWS Executive Group, and submitted to Skills England for initial feedback. GMCA’s Portfolio Lead for Technical Education, Skills and Work and Lead Chief Executive for TES&W have been sighted as art of this process.

Background:
• The LSIP is the employer articulation of GM’s skills needs in the short/medium years, with recommendations/actions needed to better align the supply of tertiary education and training provision in a place with employer demand. It has been produced by GM Chamber of Commerce (the Employer Representative Body designated for this purpose by the Secretary of State), working closely with GMCA and building on the earlier LSIP (2023).
• The development process has involved consultation, surveys and roundtables with employers/employer groups, LAs, colleges, and skills providers (including FE, HE and independent training providers).
• There is no dedicated implementation fund/resource through which to address the recommendations/actions. Rather, it is expected that the tertiary education and training system will use existing funding and levers to respond to the plan.

Decision

A statement of support for the Local Skills Improvement Plan will be submitted in line with the relevant statutory guidance on behalf of the GMCA, in consultation with GMCA’s Portfolio Lead for Technical Education, Skills and Work and Lead Chief Executive for Technical Education, Skills and Work.