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Essex Chambers of Commerce - Greater Essex Local Skills Improvement Plan Survey 2025
1.
Which of the following skill areas are currently well-covered in your workforce?
Digital skills
Communication
Leadership
Technical expertise
Customer service
Project management
numeracy and literacy.
other (free text to add info)
2.
How would you rate the overall skills readiness of your current workforce for future industry changes?
Very unprepared
Unprepared
Neutral
Prepared
Very prepared
Very unprepared
Unprepared
Neutral
Prepared
Very prepared
3.
What percentage of your workforce has received external training in the past 12 months?
0%
1% to 25%
25% - 50%
50% - 75%
75% - 100%
4.
Do you find it easy to find industry relevant training for your workforce?
Yes
no
5.
What are the main barriers to successful recruitment in your sector?
Skills mismatch
Salary expectations
Location
Lack of applicants
Awareness
Current government policies have stopped you recruiting
Other (please specify)
6.
How confident are you in your ability to recruit the skills your business will need in the next 3–5 years?
Not confident
Somewhat not confident
Neutral
Somewhat confident
Very confident
Not confident
Somewhat not confident
Neutral
Somewhat confident
Very confident
7.
Are you currently recruiting, or expect to in the next 6 months?
yes
No
8.
How likely are you to recruit a 16-18 year old Apprentice within the next 6-12 months?
Likely
Unlikely
9.
How likely are you to recruit an apprentice older than 18 in the next 6-12 months?
Likely
Unlikely
10.
Which emerging skills do you anticipate needing more of in the next 3–5 years?
AI literacy
Data analysis
Cybersecurity
Sustainability/Net Zero
Soft skills e.g communication, literacy, numeracy
11.
Do you have a strategy in place to identify and develop future skills within your workforce?
Yes
No
In development
12.
Would you like help with this?
Yes
No
13.
How likely are you to invest in reskilling or upskilling your current employees in the next 12 months?
Unlikely
Likely
Unlikely
Likely
14.
Where do you tend to go for your training?
Local college
Local university
University in other area
Local training provider
Training provider in other area
Online
Other (please specify)
15.
Would you be interested in collaborating with local education providers or training organisations to shape future talent pipelines?
Yes
No
Maybe
If you already collaborate - tell us more here
16.
What sector best describes your organisation
Advanced Manufacturing, Engineering & Aviation
Agri Tech & Food Tech
Community & Voluntary
Construction
Creative and Cultural
Digitech
Education
Health Care and Med Tech
Professional Services
Transport and Logistics
other
17.
Please provide us with your business name and contact details.
