What is a Local Skills Improvement Plan?

The Local Skills Improvement Plan (LSIP) is a Department for Education initiative that bridges the gap between employer skills needs and education and training provision across Norfolk and Suffolk. As one of 38 LSIPs across England, our plan is delivered by Norfolk Chambers in partnership with Suffolk Chamber of Commerce as the Employer Representative Body (ERB).

LSIPs are central to achieving the government’s Opportunity and Growth Missions, supporting Skills England’s driving ethos of Better Skills for Better Jobs. They offer crucial insight into local skills needs and are key to advancing Skills England’s drive to understand our nation’s skills needs, simplify access to skills, and mobilise employers and other partners in co-creating solutions.

What this means for your business

If you’ve struggled to recruit, or found that candidates coming through simply don’t have the right skills, you’re not alone… The training on offer locally doesn’t always match what employers actually need, and that gap has real consequences for businesses of every size. LSIP is the mechanism for fixing that. When employers tell us what’s missing, training providers can respond, adjusting courses, creating new provision, and making sure qualifications are built around the roles you’re trying to fill. It sounds straightforward because it is. But it only works if employers get involved.

How you can get involved with Norfolk and Suffolk LSIP

LSIPs form a key part of the overall strategic planning system, working alongside:

The Industrial Strategy identifying 8 growth-driving sectors plus construction and health & social care
Local Growth Plans developed by Strategic Authorities
Get Britain Working Plans addressing labour market challenges
Clean Energy Jobs Plan supporting Net Zero workforce development
Skills England’s national skills assessment and analysis

LSIP focus priorities

1. Articulate Employer Needs

What are the skills employers need locally and struggle to find? We engage with employers across all sectors and sizes to understand current and future skills gaps.

2. Translate into Changes in Provision

How can employers’ needs be met by providers in more responsive ways? We work with colleges, universities, and training providers to align courses and qualifications with employer demand.

3. Address Learner Demand

What can stakeholders and employers do to raise demand for and make better use of skills? We facilitate connections between employers, providers, and careers services to promote skills development.

4. Report Progress Annually

Annual reporting to the Department for Education on what we want to achieve, why it matters, what changes are needed, and who needs to be involved.

The LSIP vision

To connect employer needs with skills solutions, shaping the future of skills development across Norfolk and Suffolk.

The LSIP journey so far

September 2022 – Contract Begins

Norfolk and Suffolk Chambers commence delivery of the LSIP across the region

May 2023 – Phase 1 Complete

Initial LSIP identified key priorities: skills provision mapping, region-wide soft/digital skills training, Net-Zero funding needs, and establishing common language between providers and employers

June 2024 – Phase 2 Progress Report

Building on Phase 1 success, cementing stakeholder collaborations and acting on employer needs

June 2025 – Latest Progress Report

Continuing employer engagement, embedding LSIP in local skills system, and promoting collaborative action with providers and stakeholders

October 2025 – Phase Extension

LSIP contract extended to continue vital work connecting employers with skills provision through to 2029

Below are the annual reports from Phase 1 of the LSIP and the annual report for the ongoing Phase 2.

Want to learn more or get involved?

Understanding how LSIP works is just the beginning. Whether you’re an employer who wants to influence skills provision in your sector, or a training provider looking to align your courses with employer demand, we’d love to hear from you.

I’m an Employer

I’m a Training Provider

Or get in touch directly:

Frequently Asked Questions

How is LSIP different from other skills initiatives?

LSIP is unique because it’s employer-led. Unlike traditional top-down approaches, LSIP puts businesses at the heart of shaping skills provision. Your voice directly influences what courses are offered, how they’re delivered, and what priorities receive funding.

Who funds the LSIP?

LSIP is funded by the Department for Education as part of a national programme. The Local Skills Improvement Fund (LSIF) we’ve secured provides additional investment for training providers to respond to the skills priorities we identify.

How does LSIP connect with Skills England?

Skills England provides national oversight of all 38 LSIPs, sharing labour market intelligence and ensuring LSIPs collectively contribute to building a world-class skills system. Our local insights feed into their national assessment while their data helps inform our regional priorities.

What’s the relationship between LSIP and the Chambers?

Norfolk Chambers and Suffolk Chamber deliver the LSIP as the designated Employer Representative Body. However, LSIP is a separate initiative with its own brand, objectives, and stakeholder base. You don’t need to be a Chamber member to engage with LSIP.

How long will the LSIP run for?

The current LSIP contract runs through to 2029, following an extension in October 2025. The programme is designed to create lasting change in how skills provision responds to employer needs.