Local Skills Improvement Fund (LSIF)
The outcome of the Local Skills Improvement Plan (LSIP) has defined an agreed set of actionable priorities that employers, providers, and stakeholders in a local area can get behind to drive change. They have placed employers at the heart of local skills systems and facilitated direct and dynamic working arrangements between employers and providers. https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/634d3446d3bf7f61827af967/Local_skills_improvement_plans_-_statutory_guidance_Oct_2022.pdf
As a follow up, the Government allocated £165million across 2 financial years and just over £5.2 million to our region in the form of a Local Skills Improvement Fund (LSIF) to support the delivery of the identified priorities to 31st March 2025
The LSIF is part of a long-term change programme. It is concerned with investing in the new facilities, provision and teaching expertise needed to deliver the skills priorities set out in the Local Skills Improvement Plans. Both of which are a key part of the Government’s 10-year vision set out in the Skills for Jobs White Paper.
Skills for Jobs: Lifelong Learning for Opportunity and Growth (publishing.service.gov.uk)
The primary purpose of LSIF is to address the gap between what the sector delivers, and the skills needed by the local labour market. This will be achieved through strategic planning and investment in skills at an area-wide level.
Milton Keynes College have played a key role in the development of the LSIP within the South East Midlands, and are the lead college within this region for the LSIF, working collaboratively with Barnfield College, Bedford College Group, Moulton College and Northampton College, facilitating skills spend across the region.
The collaboration of colleges has agreed to work together to deliver the following 4 projects:
- Green Jobs and Skills
- Tackling the Digital Skills Gap
- Health and Science Capacity Building
- Improve understanding and communication between employers and training providers.
Employer forums are being set up to ensure the voice of business is key in delivering these projects and more information on these will be available in the coming weeks. In the meantime, you can register your interest and any feedback here: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/BJBB67R