Work on the first stage on an ambitious 'blueprint for growth' for local firms has been completed.

A number of leading organisations in the county have joined forces to create a programme which will tackle the skills needs of companies in Kent.

The Local Skills Improvement Programme (LSIP) is being spearheaded by the Kent Invicta Chamber of Commerce, the EKC Group, MidKent College and North Kent College.

Also assisting is the South East Local Enterprise Partnership (SELEP), Kent County Council and organisations such as the branches of the Institute of Directors and Federation of Small Businesses.

The Kent partnership was appointed by the government with the aim of influencing the national skills framework which is to be launched later this year. The successful bid secured £5.6million in funding for the project.

More than 1,200 firms are taking part with the team having already interviewed 667 business leaders - the vast bulk of which manage small firms - to gauge the skills situation locally and what is going to be required in the future.

The chamber then hosted a series of industry workshops with partners, with all the companies who responded to the survey committing to continuing the discussion. Designed to support the whole of the county’s economy, the LSIP has also identified three key sectors – agriculture, construction and engineering – with a shared thread of decarbonisation, as priorities for skills development in Kent.

Jo James, chief executive of Kent Invicta Chamber of Commerce, said: “The responses show skills continue to be a priority issue for businesses and our education providers are committed to responding to the ever-changing skills agenda.

"However, to achieve this we need to know where the gaps are, and at what level, in order to help companies recruit and retain the skilled people they need in order to grow. If we fail to respond, our county’s productivity won’t reach its full potential."

Partners will be invited to comment on the LSIP in February, before Kent Invicta presents the programme to the government.