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The Dorset Local Skills Improvement Plan, (LSIP) published in August 2023, highlighted how the skills system could address some of the issues and priorities faced by employers when recruiting, retaining and upskilling their people.
Nearly one year on, I am pleased to introduce the first annual progress report for the Dorset LSIP. The LSIP process began in November 2022. It rapidly became clear that while Dorset has significant strengths to build on there was still a need for long-term change to align the needs of employers with post-16 technical education provision and to address the local skills gaps.
This report gives an update on how far we’ve progressed over the last twelve months and highlights some of the activities of our stakeholders and partners, across the county, as they work together to align government funded training provision with the current and future needs of local employers and
learners of all ages.
This is just the start of this employer led skills journey for Dorset. In a relatively short period of time, we’ve built strong foundations, aligned strategic thinking and are seeing activities, initiatives and projects responding directly to the LSIP priorities to build capacity, capability and collaboration in the system
View the Latest Employer Priorities
The Dorset LSIP team works closely with stakeholders to develop and distribute data and insight on skills and employment. March 2025 saw the publication of the latest Priorities which can be viewed here.
The Priorities provide an update on the skills which businesses need now, and in the future. They are based on updated employer data, and analysis of the local labour market and skills data, sector specific data, alongside feedback from education and training providers’ and partners’.
They summarise employer skills needs (specialist and transferable), jobs in demand, employer delivery preferences, areas for development and training barriers.
Sector Focus
The LSIP is intended to support employers the length of breadth of Dorset. However, within the region the following sectors have been identified as high need, growth and innovation sectors and will form the core priorities of the report:
- Agriculture, Agri-tech and Aquaculture
- Advanced Manufacturing and Engineering including Aerospace, Defence and Marine
- Construction
- Digital Tech and Creative
- Health and Social Care
- Net Zero
Discover Skills in Dorset
Dorset Skills aims to help you find out more about how to train your people.
Register for updatea – and follow us on LinkedIn – to keep up-to date with skills and training news, support, and free and Government-funded training.
Updates and content are provided by skills partners from across the county collaborating to share the latest updates with you, and the profile is managed day-to-day by the Dorset LSIP team at Dorset Chamber.
Partners sharing content include business support organisations, training providers, employment experts, economic development organisations, councils and real life case studies from other employers.
Visit LinkedIn and follow @DorsetSkills to get the latest updates.
What is the Dorset LSIP?
The Dorset Local Skills Improvement Plan (Dorset LSIP) is a three-year Dorset-wide review of skills provision against the current and future needs of businesses, funded by Department of Education (DfE). It aims to identify, and provide recommendations on, the skills and training provision which Dorset employers need to grow and develop their businesses now and in the future.
The Dorset LSIP intends to support Dorset businesses to have the right people doing the right jobs with the right skills. As priorities and technologies change, as do the skills required to adapt to the different demands. The Plan will work to provide appropriate post-16 technical education to meet the skills needs in business – and those on the near horizon such as Net Zero changes
The delivery of the LSIP is led by Dorset Chamber (appointed as the Employer Representative Body – ERB) who will be working closely with public and private sector partners including Dorset employers, the LEP, the Local Authorities and all the local colleges and private providers.
Partners, Stakeholders & Contributors include:
