Greater Manchester Chamber of Commerce has released a report highlighting the new training provision planned to help bridge the skills gaps outlined in the GM Local Skills Improvement Plan (LSIP).
Delivering the LSIP on behalf of the Department for Education (DfE), the Chamber’s annual Progress Report provides a first look at how the new provision that is being planned by colleges and training providers delivers against the skills priorities extracted from data from over 3,000 GM businesses.
Key priority skills gaps highlighted by these employers in the LSIP included digital skills, green skills in relation to engineering and manufacturing, retrofitting, nursing and social care and leadership and management skills. To start to bridge these gaps, the following are just a few of the many examples of where investment has been made within colleges in Greater Manchester, and also through independent training providers, to benefit learners and ultimately GM businesses:
- Investment in electric vehicles, equipment and practical training for engineers
- Heat pump training for staff across six colleges in GM with partners, Daikin, ahead of the launch of the Low Carbon Heating Technician Level 3 Apprenticeship
- Anatomage tables for use by students and existing NHS staff
- Development of digital short courses
- Increased number of courses in welding to meet employer demand
- Leadership and management courses to upskill existing staff
Chris Fletcher, Policy Director at Greater Manchester Chamber of Commerce and contract director for the GM LSIP, said: “It’s been a year since our Local Skills Improvement Plan for Greater Manchester was published highlighting the skills and labour market issues employers are experiencing, and even in that short time, it’s clear that huge strides have been taken to tackle some of the skills gaps we highlighted then - information that came directly from businesses across GM. Whilst there are new courses and training provision in place now, listed in our Progress Report, we wait to see what impact this will have on businesses, individuals and our economy, and we will be monitoring this over the next phase of this project through further research, data analyses and engagement with employers in the region.”
Evidence from the Greater Manchester LSIP is also being used by Greater Manchester Combined Authority to help inform GM’s skills requirements, and, as the new integrated technical skills system instigated by GM Mayor, Andy Burnham, begins to take shape, the LSIP will play an integral part, acting as a conduit for the flow of intelligence directly from employers into the new skills system.
Joe Crolla, Principal Skills Manager for Employer Engagement & Insights at GMCA said, "We are pleased to see the progress that has been made in the last year - the LSIP and subsequent update report is a central piece of the body of evidence that’s helping to shape the skills system for the residents and businesses of Greater Manchester. It provides insights that not only help us to make sure that the education and training offer meets business needs, but also informs our discussions with employers around what more they themselves can do to support the development of the talent pipeline that will help their businesses to thrive and deliver inclusive economic growth. We hope activity will continue to support the shift in devolved powers for Greater Manchester and Mayor's ambitions around improving access to Technical routes like Apprenticeships and T Levels."
Minister for Skills, The Rt Hon Baroness Smith of Malvern said: “I welcome the publication of the Local Skills Improvement Plan Progress Report for Greater Manchester. 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.”
Many of the new initiatives and training courses in the pipeline have been funded through the Local Skills Improvement Fund (LSIF), which is a pot of money from DfE designated to help colleges and skills providers bridge skills gaps highlighted in the LSIP. Greater Manchester Colleges is the accountable body for this fund and has ensured that FE colleges in all 10 local authority areas of GM have benefitted from the funds invested.
The Chamber’s LSIP Progress Report also includes some of the findings from the recent Business Training survey, highlighting employers’ training preferences and most popular courses. The survey revealed that in-person training was the most popular delivery method, with 79% choosing this form of delivery, and Leadership and Management training was the most sought-after area of training.
The full report can be accessed here: https://my.visme.co/v/jwoy111g-77g0x9n.
More details on the new initiatives and additional provision now in place can be found on page 11.
A table listing all the skills priorities and corresponding actions can be found on page 24.
The business training survey results can be found on page 36.
Further information about the Greater Manchester Local Skills Improvement Plan can be found here: https://www.gmlsip.co.uk/
Contact the Chamber’s LSIP team with your views or enquiries via gmlsip@gmchamber.co.uk