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Annex B: LSIP Action Plan (2026–2029) – Introduction
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This annex sets out the action plan that supports delivery of the Sussex and Brighton Local Skills Improvement Plan (LSIP) for the period 2026 to 2029. It provides further detail on the priorities and actions identified within the main LSIP report, outlining how these will be taken forward in practice.
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As this is a live action plan, all elements will be reviewed and refined on a regular basis over the three-year period, ensuring they remain relevant, achievable and aligned to emerging evidence, delivery progress and changes in the labour market.
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The action plan has been developed as a collaborative framework, bringing together employers, the Sussex Chamber of Commerce as the designated Employer Representative Body (ERB), further and higher education providers, statutory organisations, and wider partners. It is intended to support a coordinated, partnership-led approach to addressing the priority skills needs identified across Sussex and Brighton.
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The action plan sets out indicative activities, delivery partners, and measures of success. Progress against these actions will be monitored on a regular basis by the ERB, working in collaboration with partners and aligned to wider governance arrangements. This will include tracking key performance indicators and outcomes to assess delivery and impact.
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At the time of writing the action plan has focussed on activity in year 1 with indicative actions in subsequent years which will be confirmed/updated as necessary. Partners have agreed to lead on appropriate activities throughout the plan. Where activities currently reference provider groups or sectors (for example Further Education and Higher Education Sussex Strategic Alliance (FHESSA)), specific lead organisations for each activity will be agreed and assigned as the LSIP moves into delivery and implementation through ongoing partnership discussions and governance arrangements. Engagement with providers and delivery partners to support this process has already commenced. Year 1 is confirmed but as the plan evolves, devolution progresses, and funding streams change, we will review the lead organisation and supporting partners in line with the annual LSIP review process.
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An annual LSIP progress report will be produced to review progress against the action plan, identify areas of impact, and highlight where further action or adjustment may be required. This reflects the iterative nature of LSIP delivery, ensuring that activity remains responsive to emerging evidence, changing labour market needs, and evolving local and national priorities.
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KPI Methodology
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The measures and key performance indicators (KPIs) set out in this action plan have been designed to support both effective delivery and proportionate monitoring of progress over the lifetime of the LSIP.
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A balanced approach has been taken to ensure that KPIs are:
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Measurable and evidence-based, drawing on available data sources such as the Individualised Learner Record (ILR), Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA) data, LSIP employer and provider surveys, and partner reporting;
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Realistic and deliverable, recognising the shared responsibility across partners and the limitations of data availability at local level;
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Aligned to outcomes, linking activity-level delivery (short-term measures) to longer-term system change (medium-term measures).
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Short-term measures focus on the tangible outputs and deliverables arising from LSIP activity. This includes the development of frameworks, mapping outputs, evidence reports, pathway models and partner-agreed approaches. These measures provide clear, early indicators of progress and are designed to be directly evidenced through documented outputs and shared products.
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Medium-term measures focus on outcomes and impact, including changes in participation, progression, employer confidence and alignment between skills provision and labour market need. These are supported by both:
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Headline KPIs, which reflect system-level change (e.g. progression into higher-level technical education, employer confidence), and
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Supporting measures, which provide evidence of how activity is contributing to those outcomes (e.g. curriculum updates, use of LSIP evidence in planning).
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Where specific targets are not yet defined, baselines will be established during 2026/27 using available data sources, with progress tracked over time through annual LSIP reporting.
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This approach ensures that the action plan remains both practical for delivery partners and robust for monitoring and accountability, while allowing flexibility to respond to emerging evidence and changing labour market conditions.
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