Skills England unveils ‘roadmap’ for local jobs training to drive economic growth

• Development of second round of Local Skills Improvement Plans (LSIPs) is now underway. • New guidance to steer the process has been launched by Skills England. • This follows the publication of the government's landmark Post-16 Education and Skills White Paper last month. New

LSIP i-Construct Celebrates a Record-breaking Year!

The 2025 i-Construct Event, held on 15–16 October at the Civil Engineering Training Centre (CETC), was a phenomenal success. It delivered real impact for the construction industry, for young people, and for the Solent LSIP’s priorities. The event also supported our Sector Roundtable Outcomes, where

Building a Future-ready Workforce: Why Soft Skills Matter

In a world of rapidly evolving technologies, new business models and shifting working arrangements, the nature of work is changing at pace. That means that one thing remains constant: organisations still rely on people; and people still rely on relationships, communication, adaptability and judgement. That’s

All Our Talents – Alternative Recruitment Solutions

Free online event: Thursday 6 November 2025, 1:00–2:00pm As part of our commitment to promoting inclusive employment and skills development, we are delighted to share details of an upcoming online event designed to help employers access untapped talent and strengthen their workforce. Hampshire County Council

The success of Tech+Tour: Showcasing Technical Innovations to the Future Workforce

Tech+Tour is a collaborative educational roadshow which aims to inspire visitors into considering careers in industries such as Maritime & Freeport services, Logistics, Health & Social Care, Creative Arts and Engineering through showcasing innovative equipment used in those industries and allowing visitors to get hands

Innovation South Virtual Campus Launches to Deliver Free Digital Skills Training Across the Region

A transformative new initiative is set to reshape access to digital and work-focused training across the South East. The Innovation South Virtual Campus, a collaborative project between leading regional colleges, universities, and the former Enterprise M3 Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP), officially launches this month. Developed with

Recruitment Static as Firms Assess NI Impact

Recruitment remains static with 55% of firms attempting to hire staff in the last three months (compared with 54% in Q1) Hiring remains challenging despite some respite, with 73% of firms reporting difficulties in Q2 (76% in Q1) Transport and logistics (80%) and construction (77%)

Hampshire Chamber Champions Neurodiversity in the Workplace with 3rd Future Potential event

Charity Inclusion Education joined forces with partners at Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council, Hampshire County Council, Hampshire Chamber of Commerce, Destination Basingstoke, Basingstoke Bizspace and Simpila Wellbeing, to present the third in a series of events highlighting the importance and benefit of diversity in the

Industrial Strategy ‘An Important Milestone’

Responding to the government’s Industrial Strategy published this week (Monday 23 June, 2025) Ross McNally, Chief Executive and Executive Chairman of Hampshire Chamber of Commerce, said: “Finally, we have a national plan that focuses on long-term growth over ten years. “It’s a welcome move that

Investment plays to region’s strengths, but challenges remain

Ross McNally, chief executive of Hampshire Chamber of Commerce, said of the Government's Spending Review this week: "The key question is whether or not the Chancellor has done enough to secure consistent investment so as to unlock business confidence and opportunities for growth. "We of

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