Continuing the Workforce Development Journey: Leveraging LSIP Partnerships

Building on our previous article, Driving Workforce Development: Empowering Employers Through the LSIP, in January’s edition of the Surrey Business Magazine, which highlighted direct engagement with the LSIP through commitment forms and the Future Skills Hub Opportunities Page, this follow-up explores additional ways to get involved through partner organisations, training initiatives, and Skills Bootcamps.

Partner Organizations Driving Workforce Development

The LSIP collaborates with various organisations dedicated to developing a skilled and adaptable workforce. Key partners include:

• Surrey and Hampshire Careers Hubs: These hubs work directly with schools, colleges, and employers to enhance career education, preparing young people to seamlessly transition into the workforce.
• SEND Employability Initiatives: Supporting neurodiverse individuals in finding meaningful employment is a priority. Hampshire County Council’s All Our Talents program focuses on equipping young people with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) for employment. On the Surrey side, Surrey Choices provides employer support and ensures individuals receive tailored assistance to successfully integrate into the workforce.

Training Opportunities Through the Future Skills Hub

The Future Skills Hub offers a wide range of training opportunities delivered by partner organisations, further education colleges, and training providers. Some noteworthy initiatives include:

• Innovation South Virtual Campus: Providing short online courses in business, creative, digital, employability, green, and software development skills.
• College-led Training: Brooklands College offers short professional development courses, while Sparsholt College provides tailored business training to upskill workforce teams.

Skills Bootcamps: Free and Flexible Learning Paths

Skills Bootcamps offer free courses of up to 16 weeks for local residents, designed to address priority skills identified by the LSIP and accelerate career progression. Available courses include:

• Surrey County Council: Bootcamps in advanced engineering, health and social care, construction (retrofit and heat pumps), green electrical technologies, and sustainability.
• Hampshire County Council: Programs focused on green skills, digital skills, engineering, project management, health and social care, construction, hospitality, early years, and creative sectors (film & TV).
• Activate Learning: Courses in sustainability, domestic retrofit, and e-bike maintenance.
• Basingstoke College of Technology: Diverse offerings, including early years education, electric vehicle and hybrid technologies, digital marketing, hospitality leadership, cyber security, and business and financial skills.
• Havant and South Downs College: Specializes in software development bootcamps.

These initiatives are only a snapshot of what the LSIP partnership offers. Organizations seeking to upskill their workforce and individuals looking for career advancement can benefit immensely from these programs.

For more information or to get involved with the Local Skills Improvement Plan, contact lsip@surrey-chambers.co.uk.