AN INFLUENTIAL business organisation is seeking industry leaders to join its skills advisory panel to help advise and plan the area’s economic future and the creation of jobs.

Key sectors from which people are being sought include healthcare, transport and green technology.

The Solent Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP) is a business-led collaboration between private, public and education sectors.

The board has assumed an even greater importance as a result of coronavirus.

Influential sector leaders act as champions for their area’s economic success.

Alongside the LEPs immediate work to support businesses and the recovery of the Solent area from the economic impact of the Covid-19 pandemic, the LEP is responsible for determining local economic priorities.

It undertakes activities and initiatives aimed at driving economic growth and the creation of local jobs.

The LEP established a Skills Advisory Panel in 2019 which brings local employers, skills providers and other key stakeholders together, to share knowledge on skills and labour market needs.

The panel is helping to enhance the Solent LEP’s understanding and ability to address key local skills challenges, ensuring the Solent has a skilled workforce for future ambitions.

Rachael Randall, Solent LEP Board Lead for Skills said: “Skills are at the very heart of the Solent LEP’s ambition for recovery, growth and prosperity.

“We have already invested more than £30m to enhance employer-led skills provision across the area.

“The Skills Advisory Panel plays a critical role in ensuring that we build on this progress, moving forward with the development of a new skills strategy and action plan for the area.”

The LEP is especially interested in hearing from senior business leaders working in sectors including life science and healthcare, transport and logistics and clean/green technology.

Applications will close at 11.59pm on Friday, October 9.

Further information and a recruitment pack can be found at https://solentlep.org.uk/get-involved/solent-lep-panel-membership/ or email info@solentlep.org.uk