Developed through extensive engagement with employers, education and training providers, local stakeholders and public-sector partners, the LSIP sets out a shared vision for strengthening Buckinghamshire's skills system over the next three years. The plan identifies the skills challenges facing local employers, highlights emerging opportunities and provides a roadmap for collaborative action to support economic growth, business success and opportunities for residents across the county.

The LSIP has been developed to support Buckinghamshire's long-term economic ambitions and aligns closely with Buckinghamshire's Economic Growth Plan (September 2025) and Buckinghamshire Works, the county's Get Britain Working Plan. Together, these strategies seek to support business growth, improve productivity, widen access to employment and ensure Buckinghamshire has the skilled workforce needed to thrive.

The new plan builds on the achievements of the original Buckinghamshire LSIP and reflects the evolving needs of employers across Buckinghamshire's priority sectors and cross-cutting themes. It is designed to ensure that education, training and workforce development activity continues to respond to the changing needs of employers, learners and the wider economy.

The Buckinghamshire LSIP 2026–2029 focuses on:

• Supporting the skills needs of Buckinghamshire's key growth sectors.
• Ensuring employers play a central role in shaping local skills provision.
• Improving workforce readiness and employability.
• Strengthening digital and technology-related skills.
• Supporting leadership and management development.
• Helping businesses adapt to innovation, productivity challenges and emerging technologies.
• Building stronger partnerships between employers, schools, colleges, universities and training providers.

Download the new LSIP

Buckinghamshire Local Skills Improvement Plan 2026: Download here (PDF) >
Annex A – Further explanatory information on Skills Needs: Download here (PDF) >
Annex B – Action Plan table: Download here (PDF) >
Annex C – Background and Method: Download here (PDF) >

Delivering the LSIP

The LSIP is more than a report. It provides a framework for ongoing collaboration between employers, learning providers and public-sector partners to address skills challenges and create new opportunities for residents and businesses across Buckinghamshire.
BBF will continue to convene employers and stakeholders through Sector Employer Groups, partnership activity and workforce skills programmes to help turn the priorities identified in the plan into practical action.

Skills England and Partner Statements

Phil Smith, Chair of Skills England, said: 

“The Local Skills Improvement Plans give areas a clear roadmap that will help create better skills for better jobs all across the country.  
These LSIPs, alongside the emerging sector jobs plans and the other stakeholder dialogues we are having, is helping us build a much better picture of the skills needs throughout the nation.
Skills England is excited to play a key role in that journey, so that employers and learners can benefit in local communities."

Jacqui Smith, Minister for Skills said:

“For too long, too many people have been locked out of opportunity, and businesses have struggled to recruit the skilled staff they need to build their workforce.

“Local leaders have a unique insight into the skills needs and opportunities in their area, which is why we are putting them in the driving seat to support their community.

“Our reforms, including to the Growth and Skills Levy and the Youth Guarantee, will build a workforce prepared for the demands of today as well as the jobs of tomorrow."

Previous LSIP Publications (LSIP 1.0)

The publications below relate to the original Buckinghamshire Local Skills Improvement Plan (LSIP 1.0), which covered the period from 2023 onwards and laid the foundations for the latest plan.
These documents remain available for reference and to demonstrate the progress achieved during the first phase of LSIP delivery.

LSIP 1.0 Documents

• Buckinghamshire Local Skills Improvement Plan (2023)
• Annex A – Progress Reports
• Annex B – Methodology and Evidence Base
• Annex C – Sector and Cross-Sector Theme Plans
• Buckinghamshire Local Skills Improvement Plan Progress Report (2023-24)
• Buckinghamshire Local Skills Improvement Plan Progress Report (2025)

About Local Skills Improvement Plans

Local Skills Improvement Plans (LSIPs) are employer-led plans introduced through the Skills and Post-16 Education Act to help ensure that post-16 education and training better reflects the needs of employers and local economies. They bring together businesses, learning providers, local authorities and other partners to identify current and future skills needs and agree practical actions to address them.

LSIPs are being developed across every part of England and form an important part of the Government's approach to improving productivity, supporting economic growth and creating opportunities for individuals and businesses. They are central to Skills England's vision of creating a more responsive skills system that aligns national priorities with local labour market needs and helps ensure employers have access to the workforce and skills they need to succeed. Across England, LSIPs are helping to shape training provision, strengthen collaboration between employers and providers, and support the delivery of wider economic objectives. 

The Buckinghamshire LSIP supports these national ambitions while addressing the specific opportunities and challenges facing employers across the county. It complements Buckinghamshire's wider strategic priorities, aligning with Buckinghamshire's Economic Growth Plan (September 2025) and Buckinghamshire Works, the county's Get Britain Working Plan. Together, these strategies seek to support business growth, increase productivity, create pathways into employment and ensure residents can develop the skills needed to access high-quality jobs and career opportunities.

By strengthening the connection between employers, education and training providers, and public-sector partners, the Buckinghamshire LSIP helps ensure that local skills provision supports both current workforce needs and the future growth sectors identified through local and national economic strategies, including the Government's Industrial Strategy.

How to contact us about the Local Skills Improvement Plan

To find out more or register your interest in contributing to the LSIP, please contact the BBF Workforce Skills Team: [email protected] / 01494 927130.

John Browning is the Programme Manager for the Local Skills Improvement Plan in Buckinghamshire.  

He can be contacted directly at [email protected] or 01296 798774 / 07507 690892.

To learn about the LSIP Conflict of Interest Policy and the LSIP Register of Interests, click here.