• LSIP 2026-29 launches with pledges to strengthen talent access, training pathways and employer skills voice
• Liverpool City Region Chambers of Commerce have welcomed a three-year extension to the business-led Local Skills Improvement Plan scheme.
• The Combined Authority and Chambers collaborated with Skills England to align training pathways with local economic growth priorities and business needs.
• The 2026-29 plan outlines six priority actions and calls on local businesses to become Industry Skills Champions to shape future provision.

Chambers of Commerce across Liverpool City Region have welcomed the government’s decision to extend a pioneering business-led skills scheme for another three years.

Local Skills Improvement Plans (LSIPs) have been running for four years and have engaged thousands of people and employers in the training and education needs of businesses.  They bring together employers, education providers and other stakeholders in their area to identify the skills required to support local economies.

The LSIP for Liverpool City Region is convened by Chambers of Commerce in Halton, Knowsley and Wirral, and led by Liverpool Chamber, which incorporates Sefton and St Helens, in conjunction with Liverpool City Region Combined Authority. Together, they launched the Liverpool City Region LSIP 2026-29 this week at a special event welcoming employers and training and education providers from across the area.

The latest plan reflects employer insight into the city region’s priority economic sectors, skills challenges and job market. It also outlines how designated employer representative bodies and strategic authorities, who developed the plan with support from Skills England, will work with education providers and other partners, such as Job Centres, to ensure training meets local businesses’ needs and to tackle issues like youth unemployment.

More than 51,000 Liverpool City Region businesses were contacted via electronic communications, leading to 1,618 active engagements with businesses 635 ‘deep dive’ interviews and analyses.

A strong theme among responding employers was the need for greater access to skilled talent and the desire for more job-ready recruits. Training pathways were also commonly highlighted, with employers seeking easier access to workforce development opportunities and the ability to offer clearer progression routes for existing employees. Digital and AI capability is also a growing priority.

LSIP 2026-29 identifies these key areas of concern and lays out six priority actions to tackle those employer challenges. It also includes a clear call to action for employers to shape the future workforce they want to see by becoming an LCR Industry Skills Champion and helping to influence training priorities and future skills provision across the Liverpool City Region and ensure they reflect the realities of modern business.

Jane Clappison, LSIP employer engagement & project coordinator at Liverpool Chamber, said: “As a collective, we have been working closely with employers and educators across the city region for many months and the government’s decision to extend LSIPs for three more years means that collaboration can continue to provide the training that young people need for the jobs of tomorrow.

“The driving force behind LSIPs is to deliver meaningful change for both employers and local communities. We can only do this through closer ties with colleges and universities so that teachers understand the various growth areas in the Liverpool City Region and know how to adapt their curricula and signpost their students towards those careers.”

The LCR LSIP launch event was held at Bruntwood’s Cotton Exchange building in Liverpool and was hosted by Dr Kate Webb, who has led on drafting the latest report on behalf of the convening partners.

Speaking at the event, Andy Dockerty, director at Adlib, said: “While we have seen success through initiatives such as the Skills Bootcamp and school engagement in Knowsley, there remains a large gap between the needs of industry and the delivery and funding of training. It is impossible for education to look forward while it is fighting simply to stay where it is.

“We would urge policymakers to review how funding is delivered to education and have a greater focus on outcomes. There is also a greater need for soft skills and helping candidates to have greater levels of professionalism and willingness to adapt to the needs of specific industries. Many of these needs are expressed through the latest LSIP Report and we look forward to sharing our insights and experience throughout the process.”

Cllr Marion Atkinson, Leader of Sefton Council and Liverpool City Region Combined Authority Cabinet Member for Skills and Employment, said: “Our City Region has real challenges but also huge economic strengths and if we are to maximise those, business need the confidence to invest in the future.

“In the past, skills have been treated separately from economic growth, but this LSIP is distinctly different, as it is clearly aligned with our economic growth priorities.

“This latest plan represents an effective partnership where the Combined Authority provides strategic leadership and investment, the Chambers of Commerce offer the voice of business, and our colleges and education providers provide the perspective of students and delivery. No single organisation has all of the answers but, by working together, we can ensure the LSIP creates positive outcomes for our residents.”

Phil Smith, chair of Skills England, said: “The Local Skills Improvement Plans give areas a clear roadmap that will help create better skills for better jobs across the country.

“These LSIPs, alongside the emerging sector jobs plans and the other stakeholder dialogues we are having, is helping us build a much better picture of the skills needs throughout the nation. Skills England is excited to play a key role in that journey, so that employers and learners can benefit in local communities.”