Plans to improve the skills of workers in the county have been given a seal of approval from the Secretary of State for Education.

The Rt Hon Gillian Keegan gave Kent and Medway’s Local Skills Improvement Plan 2023 (LSIP) the Ministerial vote of confidence.

Kent Invicta Chamber of Commerce led on the plan which is aims to address skills needs and shortages and enable further collaborative initiatives.

The chamber worked closely with a range of employers, sector and trade groups, and other stakeholders to bring together the key elements of the region’s short and long-term skill improvement and needs.

An announcement follows the work of the chamber after it was appointed last year by the government to be one of eight national trailblazers designed to influence the local skills agenda in partnership with the county’s colleges.

It also builds on the work of the Kent & Medway employment taskforce.

Leaders of local further education colleges, Graham Razey, OBE, David Gleed and Simon Cook, also back the new plans.

Simon Cook, chairman of Kent Further Education and MidKent College principal said: “The LSIP has strengthened the collaboration between the three Kent and Medway Further Education colleges, giving us a sharper focus on the skills priorities of businesses, which is good for our students and good for local firms.”

Jo James OBE and chief executive of the chamber added: “Ensuring the needs of Kent and Medway businesses are at the heart of the skills conversation is vital. This plan strengthens collaboration between education providers and employers.

“By listening to the needs of business, we can take a proactive approach with providers and stakeholders to address the day-to-day skills challenges and make a meaningful difference to the future prosperity of the region.”

The chamber will lead the plan over the next two years, driving initiatives with the support of strategic partners across the region, including independent training providers through KATO, higher education institutions, the National Career Service (CXK) and the Careers Hub (The Education People) as well as the local and regional authorities and Further Education providers.

Jo James added: “LSIPs have been developed as a valuable tool for improving the skills system in England, with Kent and Medway at the forefront. By working together, employers, training providers, and other stakeholders can ensure the workforce has the skills the region needs to succeed in the 21st century economy.”