Buckinghamshire Business First to create skills improvement plan

Published by

Stephen Emerson

Secretary of State for Education, Kit Malthouse MP, has tasked Buckinghamshire Business First with creating a Local Skills Improvement Plan.

The Improvement Plan will outline how skills delivery projects will meet employer requirements. Buckinghamshire Business First is one of 37 nationwide business groups chosen to outline local plans.

Buckinghamshire Business First will liaise closely with employers in order to research, develop and produce the Buckinghamshire post-16 Improvement Plan (LSIP). Participating employers can also support local employment and upskilling through apprenticeships, providing work placements, and seconding staff to colleges.

The Local Skills Improvement Plan will follow on the work completed by the Bucks Skills Hub’s Local Skills Report 2022.

Philippa Batting, Managing Director at Buckinghamshire Business First, said: “We are delighted that Buckinghamshire Business First has been chosen as one of only 37 business groups across England to be awarded this official designation, which will provide a great opportunity for local employers to influence skills training provision in the county.”

Businesses can benefit from engaging with Buckinghamshire Business First in its role as Employer Representative Body by helping to identify current and future skills requirements in the local area and helping to bring about changes which ensure a better match between skills provision and their skills needs.

Philippa concluded: “Ultimately, the LSIP will be an opportunity for businesses to understand how their future workforce will need to be positioned to ensure their business plans are successful.”

Stephen Emerson

Stephen Emerson is the Managing Editor of The Business Magazine and is responsible for the publication's print publications and online properties including the newly launched Biz News websites in Hampshire and Dorset. Stephen has been a journalist for 20 years and has worked at local, regional and national publications and led a team which made The Scotsman website one of the fastest growing news sites in the UK with over eight million monthly users. He has a keen interest in technology, property and corporate finance and telling the stories of the people behind the successful firms in these sectors.