Businesses across Cambridgeshire and Peterborough are being encouraged to engage with the Cambridgeshire Chamber of Commerce as the region’s Local Skills Improvement Plan (LSIP) enters its next phase. This follows national progress on skills reform and the continued push to address critical workforce shortages.
LSIPs aim to support economic growth by ensuring that training meets the needs of local employers across key sectors such as construction, digital technology, and advanced manufacturing. Since their introduction, LSIPs across England have strengthened the skills system by formalising employer voices and supporting collaboration between businesses, colleges, universities, and local partners. This helps improve progression opportunities for learners and the existing workforce.
Minister Calls for Employer Engagement
Baroness Jacqui Smith, Minister for Skills, said:
“Local Skills Improvement Plans (LSIPs) are critical for developing the skilled workforce needs of Cambridgeshire and Peterborough. I’m delighted that the second wave of LSIPs is currently underway and I encourage businesses to engage with Cambridgeshire Chamber of Commerce to articulate their skills needs and work with Skills England, local skills providers, including colleges and local universities, to develop solutions to address them.”
Measurable Improvements in Skills and Workforce Development
Through collaboration, the LSIP has supported measurable improvements in skills and workforce development in Cambridgeshire and Peterborough:
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21% increase in apprenticeship achievements between 2022/23 and 2024/25, including strong growth in Construction (+113%) and Digital Technology (+92%)
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4% rise in adult Further Education participation, compared with a 1% fall nationally, supported by an 8% increase in adult apprenticeships
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18% reduction in adults lacking a Level 2 qualification, versus a 1% reduction across England
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Recruitment difficulties reduced, with 22% of vacancies hard to fill in 2024, down from 31% in 2022
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Skills gaps at a record low, with establishments reporting at least one skills gap falling from 16% to 11% and employees not fully proficient dropping from 5.3% to 3.1%
Charlotte Horobin, Chief Executive of Cambridgeshire Chamber of Commerce, said:
“We welcome Baroness Smith’s encouragement for businesses to engage with the Chamber as the LSIP enters its next phase. Events such as the Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Skills Summit provide vital opportunities for employers to understand the evolving skills landscape and shape training provision that meets their needs. By aligning skills development with local business priorities, we can support growth across the region and ensure Cambridgeshire and Peterborough remain competitive nationally and internationally.”
The Chamber’s delivery of the LSIP is underpinned by a strong partnership with the Cambridgeshire & Peterborough Combined Authority (CPCA), aligning skills priorities with wider economic, infrastructure, and employment strategies across the region.
Andrea Wood, Assistant Director of Skills and Employment at CPCA, added:
“Partnership working is essential to making the skills system work effectively. Through close collaboration with the Chamber, Skills England, and local providers, we can ensure that investment in skills supports inclusive growth and helps people access high-quality employment opportunities across Cambridgeshire and Peterborough.”
The importance of collaboration was highlighted at the Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Skills Summit, hosted by the Chamber in September at Anglia Ruskin University in Peterborough. The event brought together employers, educators, and policymakers to explore shared challenges, emerging skills needs, and opportunities for innovation, and was widely welcomed as a forum for open discussion and networking.
Upcoming Events
The Chamber is hosting two upcoming events to support businesses and the LSIP’s next phase:
Regional Skills & Workforce Summit
Date: 25 March 2026
Location: Anglia Ruskin University, Cambridge
Building on the September Skills Summit, this event will bring together employers, training providers, and stakeholders to explore emerging skills needs, influence local training provision, and support the ongoing development of the LSIP.
Book here: https://www.cambridgeshirechamber.co.uk/events-training/events/regional-skills-workforce-summit/
Quarterly Labour Market Analysis Webinar
Date: 26 March 2026
Gain insights into employment trends, skills demand, and recruitment challenges across Cambridgeshire and Peterborough.
Booking your place here: https://www.cambridgeshirechamber.co.uk/events-training/events/quarterly-labour-market-analysis-webinar/
Additional opportunity:
Local businesses are encouraged to complete a short skills survey to help build a clearer picture of workforce challenges. The results will inform future training provision, funding, and skills support.
Survey link: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/LX9NR8T
Statistics and data referenced in this article are from PolicyDepartment Ltd’s analysis commissioned for the Cambridgeshire and Peterborough LSIP and relevant national sources where applicable (e.g., national apprenticeship and skills data).