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Skills Training and Resources

More than ever, businesses are in need of an agile system that equips individuals with essential skills for the modern job market. This is something that our skills training and resources are designed for, providing lifelong learning opportunities using a range of methods to reduce the skills gap.

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Reliable and trustworthy skills resources.

HCoC strives to provide employers in the Solent area with a clearer view of training pathways to employment and skill development. More broadly, the HCoC aspires for the Solent Skills Channel to become a one-stop shop for all LSIP-related outputs and a virtual noticeboard for employers.

By collaborating with national strategies and insights, as well as local employers, we seek to build a more accessible skills ecosystem with the aim of improving coordination, complementarity, and increasing clarity for employers and learners. Whether it’s apprenticeships, T-levels, or bootcamps, the schemes we support strive to provide tangible skills for jobs across varied industries.

Skills Planning That’s Designed for Local Businesses

Hampshire Chamber of Commerce’s 6 LSIP priorities drive the importance of training and skills planning to local businesses with the goal of unlocking Hampshire’s potential. The overarching aim here is to provide training, trade support, and advocacy to over 2,000 companies.

The Local Skills Improvement Fund

The Local Skills Improvement Fund (‘LSIF’) is a key delivery vehicle for LSIPs across the country, and is concerned with investing in new facilities, as well as the provision and teaching expertise needed to deliver the skills priorities identified. The purpose of LSIF is to address the skills gap between what the skills ecosystem delivers and those needed by the labour market.

Within the area, integration between the LSIP and LSIF represents a strategic collaboration between industry and FEIs aimed at:

“addressing skills shortages, enhancing access to higher technical education and building capacity in the Solent region across four key priority sectors identified in the Local Skills Improvement Plan (LSIP)”.

This collaborative approach is exemplified by the co-location of the CoC within the grounds of Fareham College, seeking to continue the interaction between employers (i.e. via ERBs) and FE providers.

The Solent LSIF consists of four projects, each focusing on a key sector that has been identified as having skills gaps and shortages, as well as growth potential and demand in the Solent region. Crosscutting themes aim to address priorities in net zero/ low carbon technologies and digital transformations.

  • Project 1 – Creative Arts
  • Project 2 – Maritime and Freeport Sector Services
  • Project 3 – Research and Development
  • Project 4 – Health and Social Care

Each project has been designed and developed in consultation with employers, industry experts, and stakeholders, and will utilise LSIF capital and revenue funding to deliver new and enhanced provision, state-of-the-art equipment, and innovative learning methods.

Upskilling Initiatives We Support

For more details see our Qualifications Guide

Partnering with Employers

Solent LSIP’s Priority 3 is to encourage employers to be proactive and play a greater role in shaping local provision. We also empower businesses to develop and nurture partnerships with the skills ecosystem as a way of good business planning.

By integrating employer insights and supporting lifelong learning, the Hampshire Chamber of Commerce drives a skilled workforce prepared for developing economic demands. This approach builds a research-based understanding of sector-specific skills gaps. Each deep dive will also include roundtable events aimed at incorporating employers’ views within the recommendations put forward.

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Do you want to play a greater role in shaping local provision and how the LSIP benefits local businesses at forthcoming events?

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Skills Pathways

Recent research has highlighted specific career opportunities in the Solent region. The infographic document created by LSIF explores key local sectors and outlines potential pathways for future career opportunities that are available to you!

LSIF Career pathways

Rather than focusing exclusively on conventional career paths and promotions, career pathways can help employers expand talent pipelines and empower workers to unlock new advancement opportunities.

A career pathway is a plan or roadmap that uses skills data to enable employers to find talent, develop their existing workforce, and connect employees with the right jobs. Relevant skills data shows employers how workers can successfully advance to new roles.

LinkedIn research from 2023 found that 80% of people who started a new job in the prior 12 months were from a different occupation, many of whom came from entirely different departments or functions. As an example, an event planner may possess organisational, budgeting, and communication skills that align well with a marketing assistant or project manager role.

Find out more:

LSIP Career pathways for employers

 “Our message to policymakers in all parts of the UK is clear – the right steps must be taken today to develop the workforce of tomorrow.”

– Jane Gratton, Deputy Director of Public Policy, British Chamber of Commerce.

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