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East of England

Greater Essex

Local Skills Improvement Plan 2026-2029 · set by Essex Chambers of Commerce

12
Priority sectors
23
Occupations in demand
30
Skills named
6
Funding streams

The Greater Essex LSIP 2026-2029 (covering Essex, Southend and Thurrock), led by Essex Chambers of Commerce and approved by the Secretary of State, is employer-led and shaped by sector roundtables and a business survey of 411 respondents (over 2,000 employers engaged). It sets out seven cross-cutting Priorities: (1) Employer Participation in Skills Activities and Workforce Solutions, (2) Essential Skills and Behaviours, (3) Modern Leadership and Management, (4) Building Inclusive, Future-Ready Skills Pathways from Entry Level to Level 8, (5) Digital Skills, Digitech & Artificial Intelligence, (6) A Stronger, Joined-Up Skills Planning System, and (7) Clean Energy.

What employers here asked for

  • Agri-tech, food tech & horticulture
  • Community & voluntary
  • Transport and Logistics
  • Visitor economy (travel & tourism)
  • Sport and physical activity (cross-cutting)

National growth sectors

Designated by government, not chosen locally.

  • Advanced manufacturing, aviation, aeronautical engineering & engineering
  • Construction & the built environment
  • Creative industries
  • Digitech
  • Health, social care and med-tech
  • Professional Services
  • Clean Energy

Occupations in demand

A sample: 16 of the 23 occupations the plan names.

  1. 01Support Workers
  2. 02Care Assistants
  3. 03Health Care Assistants
  4. 04Learning Support Assistants
  5. 05Teaching Assistants
  6. 06Nursery Practitioners
  7. 07Warehouse Operatives
  8. 08Delivery Drivers
  9. 09Kitchen Assistants
  10. 10Quantity Surveyors
  11. 11Programmers
  12. 12IT managers
  13. 13Systems designers
  14. 14Cybersecurity specialists
  15. 15Digital technicians
  16. 16Civil Engineers

Jobs advertised right now

Skills named in the plan

A sample: 12 of the 30 skills the plan names, grouped by kind.

Technical

  • Higher-level progression (V Levels at Level 3, new Level 2 pathways, ambition for two-thirds of young people into Level 4+)
  • Cyber security
  • Data analysis / data analytics
  • Programming
  • Systems design
  • Entry-level green skills
  • Clean energy engineering
  • Environmental technology
  • Energy systems management

Digital

  • Digital skills / digital capability
  • Digitech capability
  • Artificial Intelligence (AI) skills / AI literacy