Essex Skills Plan is launched

A group of people using virtual reality equipment.

Our new Essex Skills Plan has been launched. The Plan identifies key local skills gaps and the actions needed to tackle these.

It provides an overview of the current labour market, highlighting areas where additional skills provision is required. The Plan also acts as an interim report on local skills. This is ahead of the imminent Local Skills Improvement Plan (LSIP) being developed for Essex, Southend and Thurrock by the Chambers of Commerce.

The Essex Skills Plan prioritises the sectors featured in our Sector Development Strategy. It also supports our Levelling Up agenda by explaining how residents can benefit from future growth and ‘good jobs’.

The Plan has been developed in partnership and aims to achieve a shared vision for Essex. It has been led by evidence and overseen by a series of roundtable discussions, chaired by Cllr Tony Ball and with input from employers, skills and education providers, local authorities and sector bodies. Utilising this collaborative approach will help to build a sustainable jobs market in Essex, which is attractive to both employers and employees.

Cllr Tony Ball, ECC Cabinet Member for Education Excellence, Lifelong Learning and Employability said: “Improving access to and the uptake of skills provision is key to levelling up Essex. Our economic landscape is extremely exciting and the opportunities are vast, however, we need to ensure that our current and future workforces are ready to take advantage of the breadth of job opportunities. The Essex Skills Plan will guide us in filling any gaps and improving residents’ prospects across the county.”

Read the Essex Skills Plan at our website.