02 Feb From LSIP to LSIF – West London’s investment into Further Education

Following the publication of the Local Skills Improvement Plan (LSIP) report for London and West London in the summer of 2023, the DfE introduced the Local Skills Improvement Fund (LSIF) to support FE Colleges deliver on the Actionable Priorities identified in the LSIP, enabling them to improve their responsiveness to the needs of their local economies. In November 2023, West London colleges secured £4.8m of funding to invest in improved programmes and facilities in the priority sectors of Health and Social Care, Creative, Logistics, Food & Drink Manufacturing and Retail.  The investment spans FY23/24 and FY24/25 and details of the projects are below. We will be continuing to share updates as the projects progress.

Overview: Health & Social Care Project (led by Harrow, Richmond and Uxbridge College)

West Thames College – installing a hospital suite and VR simulation room, with a focus on L3 Adult Nursing.

HRUC – installing a hospital suite, a dental suite, a care suite, a wellbeing/allied health/rehab suite, a nutrition suite and immersive technology at Uxbridge.

West London College – developing a Life Sciences lab focussed on Pharmacology, Physiotherapy and Occupational Therapy at Hammersmith, and a Therapies Suite to focus on the delivery of Physiotherapy and Occupational Therapy training.

United Colleges Group – installing a hospital suite featuring dementia care, British Sign Language, assistive technology and VR.

Overview: Creative and Media Project (led by West Thames College)

Capel Manor College – developing a CAVE automatic virtual environment to support the VR experience for creative students in Gunnersbury Park.

West Thames College – updating existing film and tv production studio, including equipment for broadcasting (live stream) and recording of performances and events.

Barnet & Southgate College – transforming existing spaces into cutting-edge, specialist training facilities; TV studio, specialist sound studio; a classroom equipped for the specialist teaching; a games, animation and VFX centre.

West London College – creating a dedicated digital and creative lab at the Ealing Campus.

Stanmore College – creating a Creative Arts & Media Hub to include Apple Mac Lab, E-Sports Video Lab, 3D Print Lab and refurbishment of the Art Rooms.

United Colleges Group – updating facilities to include industry standard photographic, audio visual and lighting equipment, audio visual mixer to allow for live streaming. Introducing AR headsets and software.

In addition, all partners are collaborating on employer engagement to co-design industry-led programmes of study, sharing of teaching technology for CPD and curriculum development resources.

Overview – Logistics, Retail and Food and Drink Manufacture Project (led by West London College)

West Thames College – Logistics

• Feasibility study to understand sector perspective on current training and development programmes and any changes in existing curriculum or courses that are being promoted by the sector at a national level.
• Development of Skills Hub for the Sector to bring together training providers, employers and trade bodies to drive improvements in the skills system in West London.

West London College – Retail

• Create a Retail Training Academy in partnership with Inspire ATA and key employers across West London, including Westfield, Nike, Adidas, H&M, John Lewis and numerous hospitality chains.
• This model will also be extended to a Hospitality Training Academy. Both academies will be employer endorsed and promote accredited and non-accredited training opportunities to ensure effective skills development in the various roles incorporated across the Hospitality and Retail sectors.

HRUC – Food & Drink Manufacturing

• Feasibility study to understand the sector landscape locally and identify the growth opportunities and the in-demand jobs and skills.
• Plans also include to establish a new Food and Drink Manufacturing ‘Technical Innovation Zone’ aligned with FDM industry needs out of the West London Institute of Technology

For general information/to get involved with any of the LSIF projects, please contact Denise Bishop, Project Manager.

If you are a local business working in one of these priority sectors and would like to find out more, please contact Anna Gration, Partnerships Director.