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East Midlands

East Midlands

Local Skills Improvement Plan 2026 to 2029 · set by Federation of Small Businesses

8
Priority sectors
52
Occupations in demand
39
Skills named
4
Funding streams

The East Midlands LSIP (2026-2029), developed by the Federation of Small Businesses (FSB) as the designated Employer Representative Body in partnership with the East Midlands Combined County Authority (EMCCA), covers Derby, Derbyshire, Nottingham and Nottinghamshire. It identifies eight employer-led priority sectors: Advanced Manufacturing, Clean Energy, Construction, Life Sciences, Creative and Cultural Industries, Education, Health and Social Care, and the Visitor Economy.

What employers here asked for

  • Construction
  • Education
  • Health and Social Care
  • Visitor Economy

National growth sectors

Designated by government, not chosen locally.

  • Advanced Manufacturing
  • Clean Energy
  • Life Sciences
  • Creative and Cultural Industries

Occupations in demand

A sample: 16 of the 52 occupations the plan names.

  1. 01Welders
  2. 02CNC setters
  3. 03Machinists
  4. 04Mechanical engineers and engineering professionals
  5. 05Engineering technicians
  6. 06Instrumentation and control technicians
  7. 07Metal working production and maintenance fitters
  8. 08CNC programmers
  9. 09Software and controls engineers
  10. 10CAD specialists
  11. 11Cybersecurity roles
  12. 12Electricians (including HV)
  13. 13Retrofit trades / retrofit coordinators
  14. 14Plumbers
  15. 15Solar installers
  16. 16Pipe fitters

Jobs advertised right now

Skills named in the plan

A sample: 12 of the 39 skills the plan names, grouped by kind.

Digital

  • Digital, data and AI skills
  • AI skills
  • Digital competence in discipline (applying digital, data and AI tools in a job context)
  • Automation and robotics operation, CNC programming, AI literacy, PCB diagnostics, machine monitoring, data analytics
  • Digital surveying, BIM/BMS, smart control systems, heat network and retrofit modelling, digital compliance tracking

Technical

  • Technical and technician skills
  • Green competencies / net zero and compliance knowledge
  • Robotics operation, quality assurance, CAD/CAM, export and compliance skills
  • AI, robotics, cyber security, data analytics, digitalisation, sustainability and export skills
  • Hand skills, manual dexterity and adapting to new equipment
  • Whole-house retrofit systems, heat pumps, EV charging installation, heat networks, hydrogen safety, regulatory and policy literacy
  • EV charging, solar, heat pumps, heat networks, whole-house multiskilling, procurement, regulatory compliance, digital surveying, data analytics, AI, hydrogen system safety, carbon capture