Cambridgeshire & Peterborough Respond to New National ‘Roadmap for Local Skills’ with Renewed Commitment to Employer-Led Skills Planning

Cambridgeshire & Peterborough Respond to New National ‘Roadmap for Local Skills’ with Renewed Commitment to Employer-Led Skills Planning

Cambridgeshire & Peterborough Combined Authority and Cambridgeshire Chamber of Commerce have welcomed Skills England’s newly published Roadmap for Local Skills and the updated statutory guidance for Local Skills Improvement Plans (LSIPs). The roadmap sets out a national framework for strengthening local skills systems, requiring regions to identify their tailored skills need, engage employers and education providers, and ensure training aligns with current and future economic priorities over a three-year cycle (2026–2029).

Locally, the Chamber, as the designated Employer Representative Body, and the Combined Authority are already working closely to deliver a long-term, employer-led approach to skills. Under the updated guidance, this will become an official partnership, which will benefit from additional knowledge and resources and create a single strategic voice for the region’s needs. This approach is informed by labour market analysis and strong collaboration with local FE and HE providers, training organisations, employers, and other stakeholders.

The next three-year LSIP cycle provides a timely opportunity for Cambridgeshire & Peterborough to build on progress to date by continuing to support employers with addressing the skills shortage, ensuring education and training reflects current and future work needs and widening opportunities for local people to access good jobs.

Charlotte Horobin, Chief Executive, Cambridgeshire Chamber of Commerce, said: “We welcome the clarity provided in the new LSIP statutory guidance and Skills England’s roadmap. Our region is home to world-leading sectors, from advanced manufacturing and life sciences to agri-tech and digital. Ensuring our skills system keeps pace with employer demand is essential to sustaining that growth.

“This roadmap reinforces the importance of strong local partnerships, and we look forward to continuing our work with the Combined Authority, providers, employers, and communities to shape a skills system that genuinely works for our region.”

Andrea Wood MBE, Assistant Director for Skills & Employment, Cambridgeshire & Peterborough Combined Authority, said: “The roadmap sets out a clear national direction and aligns well with the priorities of our Local Growth Plan. Employers, training providers, and local authorities all play a vital role in shaping a responsive and inclusive skills system.

“We remain committed to working in partnership with the Chamber and wider stakeholders to ensure local residents and businesses benefit from opportunities that enable sustainable growth and a skilled workforce for the future. By combining resources and knowledge, we can ensure the LSIP aligns with the broader vision for the region”