Source · Select Committees · Education Committee
Recommendation 11
11
Accepted
Address challenges navigating LSIPs and ensure balanced local partnerships.
Recommendation
Local Skills Improvement Plans (LSIPs) have been effective in aligning employer needs with education and training provision, and in utilising and developing local partnerships. LSIPs are a relatively new initiative and will need time to become fully established. However, those most closely involved in their production and facilitation have already identified some potential challenges which the Government should address. It can be difficult for employers and providers to navigate LSIPs in a crowded landscape of overlapping initiatives and there is a perception that local partnerships are not always balanced. (Conclusion, Paragraph 50)
Government Response Summary
The government states that plans are already in place, explaining how LSIPs, overseen by Skills England, aim to reduce duplication and ensure coherent decision-making. It highlights that statutory guidance mandates key stakeholder involvement in LSIP governance and that FE providers' accountability statements require active collaboration to align provision with skills priorities.
Government Response
Accepted
HM Government
Accepted
PLANS ALREADY IN PLACE Local Skills Improvement Plans (LSIPs) have a distinct statutory purpose: to bring together employers, providers, and local leaders to align post-16 technical education with local labour market needs. Each LSIP sets out agreed priorities and deliverable actions. Skills England, with oversight of LSIPs, ensures local intelligence informs wider government strategies, such as the Industrial Strategy, Local Growth Plans and Get Britain Working Plans, and vice versa. This two-way flow of information helps reduce duplication and supports coherent, joined-up decision-making at national, regional, and local levels. For example, as part of close and regular working, the Chair of Skills England will convene mayors to discuss local labour market challenges, building on the sector priorities that Mayoral Strategic Authorities are setting out in Local Growth Plans. These insights will inform LSIPs, helping to drive closer alignment between skills offers and local labour market and economic strategy – and this closer integration will help to ensure more people can access key jobs in the economy. Collaboration is central to LSIPs. New statutory guidance, published in November 2025, sets out roles for all key stakeholders, including ERBs, Strategic Authorities, FE and HE providers, Jobcentre Plus, careers services, and others. In line with the English Devolution White Paper, the guidance reflects the strengthened role of Strategic Authorities and outlines expectations for joint working with ERBs in the next LSIP cycle. It also encourages deeper engagement with HE institutions to ensure skills needs at all levels are addressed. LSIPs are built on shared priorities and co-designed solutions. The statutory guidance is clear that all governance groups, including working groups and consultative forums, must involve all key stakeholders, while reflecting the employer-led nature of LSIPs. Accountability Statements play a key role in supporting coherence and collaboration across LSIPs and local partnerships. FE Providers are required to set out clear, outcome-focused priorities that respond directly to LSIP objectives and the Local Needs Duty. This must be achieved through active collaboration with ERBs, Local Authorities, Mayoral Strategic Authorities and other stakeholders to ensure provision is aligned with both local and national skills priorities. By embedding these priorities into their annual statements, providers help create a more transparent and coordinated approach to skills planning and delivery.