Stockport businesses invited to help inform Local Skills Improvement Plan

Businesses in Stockport, and from across Greater Manchester, are being invited to share their views on local skills shortages to inform the city-region’s Local Skills Improvement Plan.

Greater Manchester Chamber of Commerce (GMCC) is the designated Employer Representative Body for the plan, funded by the Department for Education (DfE), and is tasked to map out the main skills shortages are in each sector and borough of the city-region. The Local Skills Improvement Plan aims to ensure the skills system is more responsive to the needs of local employers.

Currently, GMCC is asking businesses to tell them about shortages in green and net zero skills. The city region’s environmental vision is to be carbon neutral by 2038, so many businesses will be taking action to do what they can to reduce their carbon footprint, however, many may struggle to find the skilled workers they need to help fulfil their green ambitions. 

Chris Fletcher, Contract Director for the Greater Manchester LSIP and Policy Director at Greater Manchester Chamber of Commerce, explained:

“From what businesses are telling us so far, there are some clear trends emerging of where the main skills gaps are. However, now we need to find out how ready businesses are to do their bit to reach net zero, and if they are ready, whether there are enough people out there who can make these plans a reality.

“Our green skills survey will capture which skills are in short supply and what measures businesses are taking in order to retain staff who have those skills. This information will help inform the LSIP which in turn will inform the skills provision implemented in each local authority area. 

“We are extremely grateful to the businesses who have already shared their views about skills shortages and recruitment problems in their sectors, but now’s the time to talk about green skills and make sure Greater Manchester is ready to supply the skilled workers we need to meet our environmental objectives.”

Businesses of all sizes and sectors across Greater Manchester are invited to complete GMCC’s short online survey, designed to understand where the green skills gaps are.