Somerset Chamber and neighbouring chamber Business West have launched a survey to find out what employers need to develop their existing workforce and the skills they will be looking for in the future.
The two chambers are working together to deliver the Somerset Local Skills Improvement Plan (LSIP) and the findings from the survey will form the basis for a new skills plan which is due to be published next spring.
The survey takes just five minutes to complete and will ensure employers’ voices shape Somerset’s future skills and training programmes with support from the Department of Education. 
David Crew, Managing Director of Somerset Chamber of Commerce, said: “Our daily conversations with businesses indicate that skills and accessing talent to grow remains a key issue for the majority of Somerset firms and this exciting new partnership with our Chamber colleagues at Business West will ensure we can continue to put employers at the heart of the skills agenda.
“The Local Skills Improvement Plan (LSIP) is central to delivering a skills agenda which is fit for both education providers and employers, as well as learners, and will help to ensure learners have the skills needed by our local businesses to enable firms to operate efficiently and effectively.”
As well as the survey, Somerset Chamber and Business West are hosting a range of online focus groups as part of the Somerset LSIP to gather additional feedback about the skills, training and workforce development needed to support both the future workforce and employers.
The groups are specifically for employers and skills providers to share insights about their experiences of current and emerging skills needs and the barriers to recruitment, retention and upskilling.
There is no charge to take part in a focus group and insights will help shape the future skills agenda in the region.
The focus groups include: 
Clean energy industries and green skills – Tuesday, November 11, 9.30am – 10.30am
Visitor economy (sustainable tourism) and green skills – Thursday, November 13, 1pm – 2pm
Retail, transport and logistics and green skills – Tuesday, November 18, 10am – 11am
Digital and professional – Tuesday, November 25, 10am – 11am
Cultural and creative – Thursday, November 27, 10am – 11am
Construction – Thursday, November 27, 1pm – 2pm
Agri and land – Tuesday, December 2, 10am – 11am
Health and care – Tuesday, December 2, 1pm -2pm
More information about the Somerset LSIP can be found here.
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