Abstract/Summary

This report presents the findings from a 3-month research project, commissioned by the Thames Valley Chamber of Commerce (via KWP) to help inform and develop appropriate Local Skills Improvement Plans (LSIPs) for FE providers in the Thames Valley (Berkshire and Oxfordshire). The overall aim of the project was to investigate the perceived skills that employers think are essential for workers to have gained through further education, training, and prior experience for employment. Through this research, it is hoped to highlight whether employers think these skills are lacking, identify any perceived obstacles and offer solutions for improving skills take up and development in the further education sector, as well as seeking to understand the underlying causes of any lack of skills progression and productivity within the business sector in Berkshire and Oxfordshire. To achieve these aims, data were collected from focus groups with employers (n=17), an online survey (n=100), and follow up interviews with a range of employers from the Thames Valley area (n=14).