LSBU Group hosts ISAC roundtable on employer investment and skills
Senior leaders from government, education and industry came together at London South Bank University (LSBU) last week to explore one of the UK’s most pressing challenges: how to make the skills system work better for employers, workers and the wider economy.
Hosted by LSBU Group, the Industrial Strategy Advisory Council (ISAC) Skills Roundtable focused on the realities of delivering skills at pace and at scale. With productivity, growth and workforce shortages high on the national agenda, participants discussed how the system can better respond to employer needs and support long-term investment in skills.
These discussions sit at the heart of the UK’s Industrial Strategy, which aims to boost economic growth by backing priority sectors, raising productivity and ensuring people have the skills needed for future jobs.
National skills policy meets real‑world delivery
The roundtable explored practical challenges including how to engage employers more effectively, improve workforce planning and strengthen collaboration across further education, higher education and independent training providers. Reducing complexity in skills funding and regulation was also a key theme, with participants reflecting on how clarity and flexibility can help unlock employer confidence.
Discussions highlighted strong examples of what is already working well across different sectors, alongside shared concerns about fragmentation and short-termism. There was a clear sense that while effective models exist, greater consistency and clearer signals from policy could make it easier for employers to invest in skills in a sustained way.
Insights from the session will feed into the ISAC’s advice to government, helping to strengthen the connection between skills policy, employer demand and the UK’s Industrial Strategy at a time when aligning these areas has never been more important.
The Industrial Strategy Advisory Council (ISAC) is an independent, non-statutory expert committee that advises government on the development and delivery of the UK’s industrial strategy, as well as monitoring progress against its objectives.
Fiona Morey, Pro Vice-Chancellor (Compulsory and Further Education) at LSBU Group, said: “Discussions like this are critical because skills sit at the intersection of education, industry and economic policy. As a group spanning further education, higher education and professional training, LSBU Group is well placed to bring these conversations together — connecting policy ambition with real‑world delivery. The roundtable demonstrated that strong models already exist and that with greater alignment and confidence, we can scale what works to support productivity, innovation and inclusive growth.”
Sammy Shummo, Group Director of Apprenticeships - Apprenticeship Team at LSBU Group, added: “Thank you to colleagues from the ISAC, Skills England, the Department for Business and Trade and sector partners for an open and constructive discussion. We look forward to continuing to contribute provider and employer insight into the next phase of skills and industrial strategy development.”