Employers endorse new plan to improve skills in Hull and East Yorkshire

A partnership of business leaders and training providers has set out its proposal for the next phase of its work to tackle the skills gap in Hull and East Yorkshire.

The Hull and East Yorkshire Local Skills Improvement Plan (HEY LSIP) has also strengthened its board with the recruitment of new members, bringing in experience and expertise from some key sectors.

Both developments are influenced by the results of a survey of employers conducted by HEY LSIP which were presented in part at the organisation’s recent online forum, and which will appear in full in the proposal which has now been submitted in draft form to Skills England.

Among the findings was that 75% of employers in the region are struggling to recruit, with communication, teamwork, problem solving and resilience all priority areas.

In addition leadership, vocational and advanced digital and sustainability skills have been identified as essential over the next two to three years, but only 32% of employers have a digital strategy and only 43% have a net zero strategy.

Other figures show that 79% of employers have links with Further Education (FE), Higher Education (HE) and Independent Training Providers (ITP), and 70% have confidence in the readiness of the FE sector to support employer needs.

The HEY LSIP board has agreed the draft and will continue its discussions with the Hull and East Yorkshire Combined Authority (HEYCA) to ensure the document aligns with local and national growth strategies. 

Further engagement with employers and training providers will take place in readiness for submission of the final document in May, with government approval expected in the summer.

Phil Ascough, Chair of HEY LSIP, said: “The LSIP was launched formally in 2023 with the aim of giving employers more say in skills development and connecting them more closely with training providers, and the feedback from all concerned shows we have made great progress.

“LSIP 2.0 needs to take that further. It will aim to support building a skilled, productive and future-ready economy and will focus on four key themes – technical skills, preparation for working life, the educational workforce, and the creation of a single, centralised hub with accessible information on skills provision, training opportunities, and wider business support.

“It will also support a range of business sectors, with a focus on the growth driving, potential and enabling sectors of HEYCA’s Local Growth Plan, and with recognition that many employers do not necessarily define themselves in one specific sector. That reality is reflected in the appointment of ten new members of our board.

“We also want to promote further engagement by simplifying language, collaborating, avoiding duplication, being agile and responsive and bringing ambassadors and champions to the forefront to share best practice and get others involved.”

To find out more about HEY LSIP and its events visit https://www.heylsip.com/

Picture details

Rod Chambers, HEY LSIP Project Manager, leading a round table discussions among employers and training providers at the MKM Stadium.