Findings will help shape the next Local Skills Improvement Plan.
A new report from Cambridgeshire Chamber of Commerce has revealed the scale of skills, recruitment and training challenges facing employers across Cambridgeshire and Peterborough.
The Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Skills Survey 2026 Snapshot Report shares findings from a major employer survey conducted between January and April 2026. The research forms part of the evidence base for the next Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Local Skills Improvement Plan (LSIP), which is due to launch later this year.
The LSIP is delivered by Cambridgeshire Chamber of Commerce, as the designated Employer Representative Body, in collaboration with Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Combined Authority (CPCA). It brings together employer insight, labour market data, job postings analysis, sector research and in-depth interviews to identify the practical actions needed to build a more responsive, employer-led skills system for the region.
A total of 341 employers across Cambridgeshire and Peterborough responded to the survey, providing a robust picture of the skills pressures affecting businesses of different sizes, sectors and locations.
Key findings include:
- 52 per cent of employers said recruitment had been difficult or very difficult over the past year.
- 60 per cent said applicants were missing technical skills related to the job role, making this the most significant skills gap identified.
- Skilled technical roles were the hardest to recruit, cited by 41 per cent of employers, followed closely by specialist and professional roles at 39 per cent.
- Transferable skills were also a major concern, with 28 per cent citing gaps in communication and teamwork and 26 per cent identifying problem-solving skills gaps.
- Demand for digital skills is expected to rise, with the proportion of employers identifying digital skills as a gap increasing from 14 per cent now to 22 per cent over the next two to three years.
- 46 per cent of employers cited cost as a barrier to training, with the same proportion citing staff time.
- 20 per cent of employers said they were not currently engaged with local education and training providers but would like to be, highlighting a clear opportunity to strengthen employer-provider partnerships.
The findings show that many skills shortages are structural rather than short-term, with employers reporting persistent difficulties in recruiting people with the right technical, digital and transferable skills. The report also highlights the particular pressures facing smaller businesses, where the cost of training and the challenge of releasing staff time can make workforce development harder to deliver.
The evidence gathered through the survey will help inform the priorities and actions within the refreshed LSIP, including work to strengthen technical skills pipelines, grow apprenticeships, improve employer access to training, expand digital and transferable skills, and build stronger links between businesses, schools, colleges and training providers.
Charlotte Horobin, Chief Executive of Cambridgeshire Chamber of Commerce, said:
“Employers across Cambridgeshire and Peterborough have been clear about the skills challenges they face and the support they need to grow.
“This survey provides valuable, first-hand evidence from businesses across the region. It shows where recruitment pressures are most acute, where skills gaps are emerging and what practical action is needed to help employers invest in their people.
“As the designated Employer Representative Body for the Local Skills Improvement Plan, Cambridgeshire Chamber of Commerce is proud to ensure that employer voice is at the heart of the region’s skills agenda. These findings will directly inform the next LSIP and help shape a more responsive, connected and employer-led skills system.”
Andrea Sanders MBE, Assistant Director for Skills and Employment at Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Combined Authority, said:
“The Combined Authority welcomes this important insight from employers across Cambridgeshire and Peterborough.
“The findings reinforce the need to build clearer pathways into work, strengthen technical and transferable skills, and ensure training provision reflects the real needs of the local economy.
“Working in collaboration with Cambridgeshire Chamber of Commerce, employers, providers and wider partners, we are committed to supporting delivery of the LSIP and helping ensure the region has the skills it needs for future growth.”
The report also identifies clear employer demand for more accessible training funding, simpler and more relevant apprenticeships, stronger connections with schools and colleges, training provision that better reflects real industry needs, practical digital and AI skills, and better brokerage and information for businesses navigating the skills system.
Employers, education and training providers, and partners across the region are encouraged to read the report and engage with the LSIP as work continues to shape the next phase of skills development for Cambridgeshire and Peterborough.
The full Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Skills Survey 2026 Snapshot Report is available here.