Greater Manchester Chamber of Commerce has launched a new report as part of its work on The GM Local Skills Improvement Plan that includes updated data and refreshed research and analysis about the skills, recruitment and labour market issues affecting businesses across Greater Manchester.
The LSIP update follows the first Greater Manchester Local Skills Improvement Plan, which was approved by the Secretary of State for Education in August 2023. Six months on, the team wanted to present the research and findings that have been uncovered since the first stage was completed.
Tasked by the Department for Education to develop and deliver the LSIP for Greater Manchester, the Chamber team’s new report provides updated labour market information on a number of sectors, including: health and social care, engineering and manufacturing, construction, and digital. These sectors have been selected because of their contribution to the GM economy, or because they have been identified as ‘priority’ sectors. Subsequent reports will focus on other sectors.
As well as the sector updates, the new report includes an analysis on the number of vacancies and most in-demand jobs in all ten Local Authority areas of Greater Manchester. There is also an in-depth look at apprenticeships provision, with a grading system showing whether the number of apprenticeship starts in each key training area is meeting demand.
Commenting on the LSIP update, Chris Fletcher, Policy Director at the Chamber and Contract Director for the Greater Manchester LSIP, said:
“As well as the vast amount of additional research that has been conducted by the team in this second phase, we have focused on implementation, with the aim of embedding the GM LSIP within the local skills system. We’ve highlighted within the report how the Local Skills Improvement Fund is being used by colleges to put in place measures to tackle the main skills shortages highlighted in our stage one report; how LSIP findings have been used by the GM Institute of Technology to make sure that the demands and needs of employers for higher technical qualifications are met; and how the LSIP has played a part in the Further Education Innovation Fund (FEIF) helping promote innovation in local colleges.
“We’d like to thank GMCA, all the businesses, colleges, skills and training providers, Greater Manchester Learning Provider Network, employer representative bodies, delivery partners and all of the other stakeholders who have played a part in this project so far, for their support and contributions to the Chamber’s LSIP work over the last 18 months. This project will only work and succeed through collaborative working, and we look forward to continuing to share the results of where skills priorities identified in the LSIP have been actioned and start to make a difference to businesses.”
A number of businesses have taken part in interviews in this second stage of the project to discuss their skills challenges and recruitment issues in more depth. The LSIP update includes a summary of some of the main findings from these discussions. Also included is a summary and analysis of the results from our Business Training survey, looking at the quality of training undertaken by employees in Greater Manchester and the amount of time and money allocated for staff training.
Following on from this LSIP update report, the Chamber’s LSIP team will continue to conduct research delving deeper into the issues highlighted so far in the project. The next LSIP report for the Department for Education will be produced in June 2024.
Click here to read the full LSIP update report.
Visit www.gmlsip.co.uk to read the first LSIP report published for DfE in August 2023, to listen to our podcasts about the GM LSIP, and to read our blogs.
A large part of the information used within the LSIPs comes directly from businesses. Without your feedback, the team couldn’t accurately identify trends and present as detailed a picture of the issues affecting each sector. Our latest survey focuses on the topic of Business Training. If you undertake training in your business, or even if you don’t, please tell us your views here so we can make sure the right training is in place to help your business.
The Chamber’s LSIP team is always keen to hear feedback. If you would like to contact the team about the LSIP update report, our research, to take part in an interview, or about any other LSIP-related queries, please email: gmlsip@gmchamber.co.uk.