TO BE PUBLISHED November 2026
Starting from:
£99 + VAT
Format: DOWNLOADABLE PDF
This conference will discuss next steps for Local Skills Improvement Plans and priorities for strengthening regional skills systems following publication of the forthcoming second cycle of LSIPs - expected in summer 2026. Areas for discussion include implementation of the next phase of LSIPs, alignment of skills provision with employer demand and learner outcomes, devolution and regional governance arrangements, participation and progression into priority sectors, and approaches to measuring long-term impact across local economies.
It is being organised as an opportunity for key stakeholders and policymakers to discuss implications of the Post-16 Education and Skills White Paper, Skills England’s first Annual Skills Report, and publication of the latest LSIPs. Delegates will consider what will be needed to translate reforms to apprenticeships, vocational pathways, the Growth and Skills Levy and the Lifelong Learning Entitlement into effective local skills planning - including priorities for employers, providers, local authorities and policymakers in responding to workforce needs and strengthening pathways into learning and employment.
Funding, responsibilities & coordination
Further discussion is expected on how LSIPs will need to evolve within an increasingly devolved skills landscape, in the context of developments such as the introduction of joint ownership arrangements between Employer Representative Bodies and Strategic Authorities.
Attendees will also consider frameworks for effective partnership working between employers, providers, local authorities and regional leaders. Areas for discussion include questions of accountability, governance, coordination and the relationship between national priorities - such as those set out in the Clean Energy Jobs Plan - and differing regional workforce requirements.
Priority sectors, participation & progression
The agenda will also draw on Skills England’s assessment of current and future skills needs, alongside emerging evidence on youth participation and economic inactivity.
Delegates will discuss priorities for addressing skills shortages, employer engagement and technological change, strengthening pathways into priority sectors, and improving transitions into employment. Consideration will also be given to how LSIPs can be structured to deliver sustained and effective support for progression and workforce development, including the implications of developments in employment policy, immigration policy and regional growth strategies for future workforce supply.
Maximising & monitoring impact
Looking at the longer term, the conference will consider how the success of LSIPs should be defined and measured. Delegates will discuss evidence that is emerging from the first and second cycles of implementation, and priorities for ensuring that plans remain responsive to changing economic and workforce needs.
Attendees will also examine what is needed to deliver sustained benefits for employers, learners and local economies, while maintaining the flexibility to respond to evolving regional circumstances and future skills demands.
