New LSBU Group strategy will strengthen pathways and partnerships across London
LSBU Group has launched its new strategy, Connecting, at an event attended by partners from education, industry, local government and community organisations.
The strategy sets out the Group’s ambition to create a more coherent, accessible and employer‑aligned education and skills system for London.
Speaking at the launch, Florence Eshalomi MP said the Group’s model aligns with the direction of national skills policy, following the publication last year of the Government’s post-16 education and skills white paper. She also praised the courses and facilities offered by South Bank Colleges and said was pleased to hear that the strategy commits LSBU Group to extending its pathway provision further across south London.
Cllr Marcia Cameron, Lambeth Council’s Cabinet Member for Economic Inclusion, reinforced the importance of joined‑up pathways for residents in Lambeth. She commended LSBU Group’s ability to support progression from ESOL through to Level 3, apprenticeships and degrees, noting that these routes are becoming essential for residents seeking access to secure, well‑paid work.
In his keynote address, LSBU Group CEO and Vice‑Chancellor Paul Kett said the strategy’s focus on “connecting” reflects the strength of the Group’s partnerships and the scale of impact they are already delivering. He referenced the Group’s collaboration with more than 60 NHS Trusts to train one‑fifth of London’s new nurses each year, as well as its work with the Greater London Authority on skills bootcamps that have supported over 120 unemployed Londoners into sustainability roles.
These and other examples, such as partnerships with industry, he said, demonstrate the potential of a more connected education and skills system, one in which schools, colleges, universities, employers and civic partners work together to create opportunities that would not exist through isolated provision. He illustrated this through individual learner journeys, including that of Maripaz, who progressed from South Bank University Sixth Form into a civil engineering apprenticeship with Jacobs, benefiting from aligned technical education at every stage.
The Connecting strategy outlines LSBU Group’s priorities across student success, pathways, partnerships, London, people and culture, and technology. It commits the Group to strengthening progression routes, reducing complexity for employers, expanding employer‑ and skills‑led education and deepening its civic role across the capital.
Closing the event, Mr Kett said the Group intends to build on its established strengths while scaling the partnerships and pathways that are already delivering meaningful outcomes for learners and employers. “There is so much we have done we can build on and so much more we can do together,” he told attendees.
Read Connecting and find out how you can work with LSBU Group.