LSIP

LSIP

Canary Wharf Financial district part of London's central business district

London Local Skills Improvement Plan

Businesses across all sectors in London are struggling to recruit people with the skills they need to grow.

At the same time, London has one of the highest unemployment rates in the UK with those from black and minority ethnic communities already more likely to be lower- skilled, out of work or living with in-work poverty. 1 in 5 Londoners are economically inactive – outside of the labour market. It is critical for business, educators and Government to work together to support all Londoners to develop the skills they need to access the jobs employers are trying to fill. 

The LSIP story

What is a Local Skills Improvement Plan, and how will it help London?

Local Skills Improvement Plans (LSIPs) are an employer-led initiative funded by the Department for Education. Every English region now has an LSIP, and they play a key role in tackling skills shortages by bringing employers, educators and other key stakeholders together to create a blueprint for transforming the skills system to meet local needs. 

BusinessLDN is proud to be leading the Greater London LSIP with the backing of the Mayor of London and London government. Our work is delivered in partnership with the Capital’s business community — The Federation of Small Businesses London (FSB), London Chamber of Commerce and Industry, The Confederation of British Industry London (CBI), and West London Business — as well as its sub-regional partnerships — Central London Forward, Local London, South London Partnership, and West London Alliance.

Together, we have created a data-driven plan for better matching post-16 training provision to employer skills demand and the needs of London’s economy. This will help employers meet their skills gaps, fill vacancies and ultimately get more Londoners into jobs.

LAUNCHING THE PLAN

Published in August 2023, the London Local Skills Improvement Plan (LSIP) sets out a blueprint for getting more Londoners into better higher-paying jobs by better matching training provision to employer demand. The report outlines a roadmap to transform London’s skills system, with actions for employers, job-seekers and training providers. Find out how we developed the plan here.

Read the LSIP annexes for London’s four sub-regions:

Reports

The London Local Skills Improvement Plan

May 2023

The London Local Skills Improvement Plan (LSIP) sets out a blueprint for getting more Londoners into better, higher-paying jobs by better matching training provision to employer demand. 

The LSIP identifies the need to help employers navigate the complex and fragmented skills system. It also highlights four cross-cutting themes that should be prioritised to future-proof the capital’s jobs market: digital skills, green skills, transferable skills and labour market inclusion. Among it’s recommendations are launching a new one-stop-shop to support job-seekers, creating a London Recruitment and Skills Support Hub to help businesses navigate the fragmented skills landscape and steps to boost digital and green skills across the capital. 

The report outlines detailed recommendations to improve London’s skills system for employers, job-seekers and training providers, and includes action needed at the sub-regional level.

Find the report here or click the image to the left.

LSIP Report front cover landscape

We have also shared the full report in a simple PDF version and the full 16 annexes to the report, download them here.

LSIP PROGRESS REPORT

June 2024

BusinessLDN has published a progress report to highlight the positive early impact the LSIP is having.

Highlights include:

  • The creation of the Grow London Local support hub for small businesses seeking to navigate the capital’s skills landscape;
  • More firms working with training providers to deliver apprenticeships and co-create new courses in areas such as digital and green skills;
  • Targeted capital investment by training providers in equipment and facilities.

Find the report here or click the image to the right.

We have also included the progress reports for London’s four sub-regions. Download them here.

LSIP Progress report cover landscape

Making London an AI leader

October 2024

We are calling for a new public-private partnership to rapidly train Londoners in highly sought-after advanced digital skills, which could boost the UK economy by billions of pounds. 

In our new report, Pioneering Advanced Digital Skills (ADS) for All, as part of phase two of the LSIP, we set out the actions needed to accelerate the roll out of ADS in the capital. It cites research carried out on behalf of Amazon Web Services which found that improving provision in ADS could increase annual GDP in the UK by around £68 billion each year, through a boost to productivity and workers’ incomes. 

It comes as the Prime Minister has pledged to make London the AI capital of the world and as the Skills Funding Agency estimates that 90% of roles will require some level of digital skills by 2030, covering areas such as artificial intelligence (AI), cybersecurity and digital entrepreneurship. 

Read the report here.

Events

The development and implementation of London’s LSIP is an inclusive, public project. All London employers, training providers, third sector, and other stakeholders are invited to get involved and help shape the outcomes for a better future for our learners, workers and businesses. Places are limited and in high demand, so register your interest early to avoid disappointment.

Event

11.06.2025

Creative Skills for a Thriving Capital

London’s creative industries are a powerhouse of innovation, culture, and economic growth. Yet to stay globally competitive, the sector needs a future-ready, skilled workforce. As the London Local Skills Improvement Plan (LSIP) highlights, there are significant skills shortages in areas like digital content, design, and technical production. These issues are compounded by rapid industry change, competition for skilled workers, and barriers to entry for diverse and emerging talent.

Please visit our upcoming events page for the full BusinessLDN event schedule.

News

Find a full record of our LSIP news and previous editions of our Skilling London Newsletter here.

Case studies

See how employers and educators are taking action on our priorities through these good practice case studies.

Governance

Please see our Governance page for a full list of our Policies and our Stakeholder Advisory Group members here.

Partners

Sub-regional partners