Government joins employers and training providers in praising skills development in Hull and East Yorkshire

The body set up to tackle skills shortages in Hull and East Yorkshire by bringing together employers and training providers has been praised by partners across the board after publishing its latest report.

The Local Skills Improvement Plan (HEY LSIP) earned plaudits from the government for its “leadership and commitment” in helping to ensure that learners and businesses “have the skills they need to thrive”.

Employers and training providers told of the value of the project in a video produced to help build more partnerships. They also updated in person at the latest HEY LSIP quarterly forum, hosted by INEOS Acetyls at Saltend Chemicals Park.

HEY LSIP was formed in September 2022 under the leadership of the Hull & Humber Chamber of Commerce as the Employer Representative Body (ERB) working closely with businesses, training providers and local authorities and paving the way to support skills development with the new Hull and East Yorkshire Combined Authority.

In delivering her annual progress report for 2024-25 to the Department for Education, HEY LSIP Project Lead Hannah Crookes highlighted progress on a number of fronts and notably with the Local Skills Improvement Fund (LSIF), which was available until March 2025 to help the development and implementation of cutting-edge training solutions to support future skills needs.

Hannah said: “The LSIF over-achieved on the majority of its key performance indicators, and has been a game-changer in enhancing the knowledge of the FE workforce, allowing learners access to updated technologies, and creating opportunities for further provider and employer collaboration.”

Hannah reported that collaboration between LSIPs nationwide has grown, with the result an increased sharing of best practice and exploring new opportunities.

In Hull and East Yorkshire, partners are deriving direct benefits from the LSIP’s programme of quarterly forums and its series of working groups specific to the target sectors of construction, engineering construction, manufacturing, agri-skills and health and social care.

Hannah said: “Training providers and employers have been responding to the LSIP and delivering their own initiatives, for example encouraging more staff to have days in industry.

“During the last year we’ve attracted around 300 delegates to our forums and representatives of more than 100 businesses, public sector organisations, voluntary and community sector organisations and providers to our working groups.

“The LSIP website enables us to respond to priorities across all our themes, demonstrating how we are listening to business and young people by providing a resource they requested to better support their understanding of provision, funding and opportunities available in our region.

“The LSIP team has been invited to over 40 external groups and is recognised as a conduit between schools and colleges and other stakeholders. We have also used our networks to provide input into local strategy and framework development.”

In the video which has been posted on the HEY LSIP web site various stakeholders talk about the benefits which they have experienced as a result of the partnership.

Rob Fergie, Site Manager at INEOS Acetyls, said: “The challenge that faces all of us is keeping the right people and ensuring we have a pipeline of the right people coming into our business. A number of businesses working together with the LSIP can help us give the right emphasis to local, regional and national government.”

Edwin Turay, Local Specialist at Barclays, said: “We love the LSIP. It’s the best group that we work with. Just to be in a room with people who are like-minded and to be able to talk about some of our challenges.”

Jamie Green of TEC Partnership told how his organisation, which operates at eight locations from Scarborough to Skegness, has invested around £1.2m of LSIF investment in seven projects across the region. 

Hannah added: “It’s clear that the LSIP, backed by investment as part of the LSIF, is enabling the development and implementation of cutting-edge training solutions to support future skills needs across the Hull and East Yorkshire region

Skills Minister Jacqui Smith said: “I am pleased to see the progress being made to bring these Local Skills Improvement Plans to life. 

“We remain committed to the LSIP model as part of our Plan for Change, and have strengthened the role that Mayors and Strategic Authorities will play in identifying and addressing the local skills issues in the plans.

 “Skills England will work hand-in-hand with businesses, education providers, Mayors and Strategic Authorities, unions, and other bodies to tackle skills shortages, co- creating solutions to ensure more opportunities for young people and existing workers wherever they are based in the country.”

Sarah Maclean and Tessa Griffiths, job share CEOs of Skills England, said: "We congratulate every ERB and their partners for their leadership and commitment to delivering these progress reports. This key work is helping to ensure that learners and businesses across England have the skills they need to thrive.”