The Berkshire and Oxfordshire Local Skills Improvement Plans (LSIPs), led by the Thames Valley Chamber of Commerce, are entering an exciting new phase. Following the success of LSIP 1.0, the programme has been extended while preparations for LSIP 2.0 get underway.
LSIP 1.0 successfully brought together employers, training providers, and local stakeholders to identify priority skills needs across sectors such as logistics, warehousing, supply chain, transport, and digital industries. Both the Berkshire and Oxfordshire LSIPs demonstrated the value of employer-led collaboration, ensuring training aligns directly with real business demand.
LSIP 2.0 will build on this foundation, taking a more integrated approach that connects skills development with broader regional and national priorities. By aligning with the UK Industrial Strategy and local authority growth plans, LSIP 2.0 will ensure training pathways support the sectors most critical to economic growth in Berkshire and Oxfordshire. It will also reflect Skills for England initiatives and the Department for Work and Pensions’ Getting Britain Working agenda, creating clear opportunities for employment and career progression.
Sustainability and net zero targets will be embedded in new training programmes and apprenticeships, helping local businesses adapt to a greener economy. Equality of opportunity will remain central, with LSIP 2.0 prioritising inclusive pathways for underrepresented groups, ensuring the benefits of skills investment reach everyone in the community.
Through these initiatives, LSIP 2.0 will strengthen employer-provider partnerships, create targeted courses and career pathways, and implement robust ways to measure impact. Employers, education providers, and community partners across Berkshire and Oxfordshire are encouraged to engage now. Your input will help shape a workforce that is future-ready, inclusive, and aligned with local and national priorities.
For more information or to get involved, contact the Thames Valley Skills Unit.
