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West Midlands

The Marches

Local Skills Improvement Plan 2026-2029 · set by Shropshire Chamber of Commerce

14
Priority sectors
17
Occupations in demand
33
Skills named
5
Funding streams

The Marches LSIP (covering Herefordshire, Shropshire, and Telford & Wrekin; economy valued at £17.3bn, population 720,000) is led by Shropshire Chamber of Commerce as the Employer Representative Body. It identifies five skills priorities for 2026-2029: three sector-specific (Manufacturing & Engineering, Health & Social Care, and Construction including green skills) reflecting persistent workforce shortages, plus two cross-cutting priorities (Digital Transformation and Professional/Employability Skills).

What employers here asked for

  • Manufacturing & Engineering
  • Health & Social Care
  • Construction (including Green Skills)
  • Digital Transformation
  • Professional Skills / Employability Skills
  • Professional & Business Services

National growth sectors

Designated by government, not chosen locally.

  • Advanced Manufacturing
  • Defence
  • Professional & Business Services (IS-8)
  • Financial Services
  • Digital and Technologies
  • Creative Industries
  • Life Sciences
  • Clean Energy Industries

Occupations in demand

A sample: 16 of the 17 occupations the plan names.

  1. 01Mechanical, Electrical, Maintenance, Design, Process Engineers and CNC machinists
  2. 02Assembly Operatives, Controls Engineers, Metal & Tool Operatives, and Mechanical & Electrical Engineers
  3. 03Metal Machining Setters and Setter Operators, Design and Development Engineers, and Engineering Professionals (not elsewhere classified)
  4. 04CNC Machinists, Metalworking Operatives, Assembly Operatives, and Welding & Fabrication Specialists
  5. 05Programmers, Software Engineers, and Systems Integration Specialists
  6. 06Care Assistants (Levels 2-3) and Higher-level Care/Support Workers, Social Workers, Occupational Therapists and Clinicians
  7. 07Care Workers and Home Carers
  8. 08Nurses and Health Professionals (Nursing Auxiliaries, Registered Nurses, Specialist Nurses, Community Nurses)
  9. 09Senior Care Workers and Registered Managers
  10. 10Bricklayers, Glazers and Fitters, Carpenters and Joiners, Architects and Civil Engineers
  11. 11Electricians, Plumbers, Joiners, Bricklayers, Carpenters, Plasterers, Roofers, Groundworkers
  12. 12Architectural Assistants, Quantity Surveyors and Estimators
  13. 13Production Managers and Directors in Construction, Construction and Building Trades Supervisors, Construction Project Managers
  14. 14Chartered Architectural Technologists & Planning Officers, and Civil Engineers
  15. 15Software Developers, IT Technicians, Cyber Specialists, and Digital Marketers
  16. 16Programmers, Software Development Professionals, IT Business Analysts, and IT Managers

Jobs advertised right now

Skills named in the plan

A sample: 12 of the 33 skills the plan names, grouped by kind.

Technical

  • Engineering skills (mechanical, electrical, maintenance, design, process, CNC)
  • Robotics, advanced materials, additive manufacturing and CNC technologies
  • Precision metalworking, welding and fabrication
  • Assembly of mechanical, electrical, metal, wood and plastic components
  • Computer-Aided Design (CAD) and engineering design
  • Personal care, health monitoring and medication administration
  • Specialist caring capability (e.g. dementia care, palliative care)
  • Care planning, holistic care coordination and compliance
  • Construction trades skills (bricklaying, plumbing, electrical, carpentry, plastering, roofing, groundworks)

Digital

  • Programming, software engineering and systems integration for digital production
  • Data-driven, analytical and digital competencies in manufacturing
  • Digital tools for care delivery and case management