Greater Manchester Employers Can Shape Future Workforce Through Government Backed Skills Plan
Employers across Greater Manchester are being invited to help shape the city region’s future workforce as the Greater Manchester Local Skills Improvement Plan (LSIP) relaunches.
Jointly led by Greater Manchester Chamber of Commerce and the Greater Manchester Combined Authority (GMCA), the LSIP gives businesses a stronger voice in tackling skills shortages and building a clear pipeline of people into good jobs.
It also supports inclusive growth across the city region’s six growth locations, key areas identified for investment and job creation.
The LSIP is part of Greater Manchester’s wider ambition to build a thriving city region where everyone can access good work and employers have the skilled people they need to grow.
The LSIP plays a vital role in delivering the ambitions of the Greater Manchester Strategy by ensuring the city region’s skills system is driven by employer demand. Developed through extensive collaboration between the business community, education providers and GMCA, it identifies current and future skills needs across key sectors such as digital, green industries and advanced manufacturing.
By aligning training provision with Greater Manchester’s economic priorities, the LSIP supports inclusive growth, boosts productivity and helps residents gain the skills needed to thrive in a changing economy.
During the first LSIP cycle (Autumn 2022 – Summer 2025), feedback from more than 3,000 employers identified key sector and place-based skills gaps, as well as strategic priorities such as digital skills, literacy and numeracy, leadership and management, and green skills to support the city region’s net zero ambitions. Colleges and training providers across Greater Manchester have already developed tailored courses in response.
This next phase will take our joint work to the next level by putting the LSIP at the heart of our strategy and delivery, giving employers across Greater Manchester a stronger voice in shaping the skills and talent they need to succeed.
Chris Fletcher, Policy & GMLSIP Director at Greater Manchester Chamber of Commerce, said: “Following the success of the first phase of the LSIP, we’re keen to build on that momentum with employers to better understand the impact of skills shortages.
“Businesses across Greater Manchester now have an opportunity through the LSIP to send a clear message to local and central government about the skills they value most and the jobs they need to fill to grow. Their input is critical to shaping training that supports innovation, sustainability and Greater Manchester’s net zero ambitions.”
Cllr Eamonn O’Brien, Greater Manchester’s Lead for Education, Work and Skills, said: “Greater Manchester is a great place to do business, and we want to keep it that way by making sure local people have the right skills and a clear pathway to the jobs our economy needs.
“The LSIP brings employers and training providers together to close skills gaps and open up opportunities. It supports the ambitions of the Greater Manchester Strategy, creating a fairer, more inclusive economy where everyone can benefit from growth.”
Dr Andrew Roberts, Chair of Governors, Bolton College, said: “Identifying local skills needs and aligning a responsive curriculum is a strategic priority for Bolton College. The LSIP report plays a key role in shaping the college’s understanding of the borough’s workforce requirements.”
To read the previous GM LSIP reports and for more information about the LSIP, visit: https://www.gmlsip.co.uk/.
Contact the GM LSIP team to discuss skills and labour market issues via gmlsip@gmchamber.co.uk, or complete the short skills survey here.
