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Somerset

Local Skills Improvement Plan 2025-2028 · set by Business West Chambers of Commerce

10
Priority sectors
32
Occupations in demand
47
Skills named
5
Funding streams

Employer-led Somerset LSIP for the 2025–2028 cycle, delivered by Business West (designated Employer Representative Body) in partnership with Somerset Chamber of Commerce, drawing on 1,458 engagements (Oct 2025–Jun 2026). It sets out eight priority skills-needs statements: (1) develop skills for Somerset's role as a national leader in innovation (clean energy, defence, advanced manufacturing, emerging tech); (2) address rurality/transport/connectivity barriers; (3) strengthen digital and AI capability; (4) improve work-readiness of young people and new entrants; (5) address recruitment and retention challenges; (6) improve employer navigation of the skills system; (7) address persistent gaps in critical and enabling skills; (8) improve understanding and application of net zero and sustainability.

What employers here asked for

  • Agri-Food and Land Stewardship
  • Visitor Economy
  • Cultural and Creative Industries
  • Construction and Built Environment
  • Transport and Logistics
  • Business, Financial and Professional Services
  • Health and Social Care

National growth sectors

Designated by government, not chosen locally.

  • Low Carbon Energy
  • High Value Manufacturing including FoodBev, Aerospace and Defence
  • Digital and Data

Occupations in demand

A sample: 16 of the 32 occupations the plan names.

  1. 01Electricians
  2. 02Solar PV installers
  3. 03Heat pump installers
  4. 04Battery storage technicians
  5. 05Retrofit assessors/coordinators
  6. 06Carpenters
  7. 07Bricklayers
  8. 08Scaffolders
  9. 09Groundworkers
  10. 10Civil engineers
  11. 11Building surveyors
  12. 12Trades and site safety
  13. 13Engineering technicians
  14. 14CNC machinists
  15. 15Welders
  16. 16Mechanical and electrical engineers

Jobs advertised right now

Skills named in the plan

A sample: 12 of the 47 skills the plan names, grouped by kind.

Digital

  • Digital skills and AI readiness
  • Baseline / basic digital literacy (administrative office software)
  • AI awareness, safe/ethical use and prompt literacy
  • Data literacy, data analysis and visualisation
  • Cyber security awareness

Technical

  • Innovation capability, automation, AI adoption and process improvement
  • Green skills / net zero (carbon literacy, sustainable operations, environmental compliance, resource efficiency)
  • Land-based practical skills
  • Agri-tech, precision agriculture, sustainable land management and food processing
  • Carbon accounting, biodiversity net gain and nature recovery (agri-food green skills)
  • Electrical competence and electrical pathways
  • Solar PV, battery storage and heat pump installation