Hertfordshire Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP)’s Local Skills Report – Planning for the Future – has been published.

The report, which follows the first report published in March 2021, sets the scene for employers and skills providers at a time when the Department for Education is Trailblazing new Local Skills Improvements Plans in eight areas of the country.

As well as a reflection on the past 12 months and looking ahead to 2022 and beyond, the report outlines the skills strengths and needs for the region, as well as the Skills and Employment Strategy and Hertfordshire’s Action Plan, which will be monitored bi-annually by both Hertfordshire County Council and Hertfordshire LEP. The first monitoring report is due next month, and the full strategy will be reviewed annually to ensure it is in line with updated evidence and policy changes, or variations to the local skills and employment landscape.

The report also takes a critical look at the progress the county has made against existing skills strategies and action plans, including a reflection on the key achievements of the Skills Action Plan and any challenges faced, and highlights positive impacts, namely the new apprenticeship programme in Modern Methods of Construction and the Stevenage Innovation and Technology Centre.

Adrian Hawkins OBE, Chair of the Hertfordshire Skills Advisory Panel, said: “Our key focus is to continue to take a place-based approach to levelling up outcomes in skills and employment and ensuring our residents can benefit from local jobs and training opportunities. Our key growth sectors provide the catalyst to increased productivity by providing jobs across a wide spectrum of skills levels.”

You can read the report here.