Business leaders, educators and sector representatives from across Berkshire and Oxfordshire came together this week at the Talent & Skills for Critical Services event, hosted by the Thames Valley Chamber of Commerce Skills Unit, to address growing workforce pressures and strengthen collaboration across priority sectors.
The event focused on tackling skills shortages in critical service areas including health and social care, construction, digital and green technologies, as part of the continued delivery of the Local Skills Improvement Plans (LSIPs) for Berkshire and Oxfordshire. Discussions centred on how employers, educators and partners must work collectively to ensure the region’s skills system remains responsive, inclusive and aligned to real workforce demand.
Opening the event, the Thames Valley Skills Unit highlighted the progress being made to ensure employer voice directly shapes local training provision. Thousands of businesses have now engaged through consultation and partnership activity, with significant investment secured to develop new courses aligned to employer needs. Workforce Development Partnerships are continuing to expand across priority sectors, strengthening collaboration between industry and education providers.
Attention is now turning to LSIP 2.0 (2025–2029), with extensive employer consultation already underway. Emerging priorities include strengthening digital literacy, supporting AI adoption, developing leadership capability, addressing construction and retrofit skills shortages, and building stronger entry-level talent pipelines to widen participation across the region.
Delivering the keynote address, Nikki Morgan from Frimley Health NHS Foundation Trust spoke about the urgent need to inspire more young people into health and social care careers. With workforce pressures continuing and Generation Z underrepresented across parts of the NHS workforce, she emphasised that early and meaningful engagement with students is critical. Initiatives such as careers fairs, insight days, work experience placements and T-Level industry placements are helping young people better understand the breadth of roles that contribute to patient care.
The importance of engaging parents was also highlighted, recognising their influence in career decision-making. Greater awareness is needed around modern entry routes, including apprenticeships and T-Levels, to ensure families understand the range of pathways available into health and care professions.
The forum also placed strong emphasis on essential skills as the foundation of workplace readiness. Emma Crighton from the Skills Builder Partnership stressed that skills such as communication, problem-solving and teamwork must be embedded consistently across education and employment pathways. Speakers reinforced that essential skills development should begin early, be clearly reflected in recruitment practices, and be supported through effective onboarding and leadership once individuals enter the workplace.
Panel discussions explored whether education is keeping pace with the speed of change across sectors. While there was recognition that rapid technological and industry transformation presents challenges, closer collaboration between employers and educators was identified as the most effective way to respond. Examples shared included employer involvement in curriculum design, industry-led T-Level projects, flexible training models such as skills bootcamps, and clearer progression routes through apprenticeships and in-house development.
Construction and retrofit skills were highlighted as national priorities, alongside continued workforce pressures within health and social care. The discussion reinforced that coordinated action across sectors will be essential to closing the skills gap and building long-term resilience.
The event concluded with a clear message: employer voice remains central to shaping a future-ready skills system. Businesses across Berkshire and Oxfordshire are being encouraged to participate in ongoing LSIP consultation activity, join Workforce Development Partnerships, and help shape the next phase of skills development across the Thames Valley.
For more information or to get involved, employers can contact TVBerksLSIP@tvchamber.co.uk or TVOxonLSIP@tvchamber.co.uk.
