GFirst LEP

GFirst LEP is the Local Enterprise Partnership for Gloucestershire and now operates as a legacy organisation, with its website documenting 12 years of work to support sustainable economic growth across the county. The partnership brings together businesses, voluntary organisations, education providers and the public sector to help Gloucestershire realise its economic potential by creating jobs and business opportunities. In the skills arena, GFirst LEP focuses on employment and skills strategies for the county, producing an Employment and Skills Evidence Base, a Skills Strategy for Gloucestershire 2022–2027, and a Local Skills Report to inform local provision and funding priorities. It works with local employers and careers, employability and skills providers to align training with current and future workforce needs, and has commissioned a range of skills projects to support employment and skills development in Gloucestershire. GFirst LEP also co‑ordinates the Gloucestershire Skills Advisory Panel and supports initiatives such as the Gloucestershire Careers Hub, helping schools and colleges strengthen careers support and links with local businesses. While GFirst LEP influences and helps shape local skills and training provision, the website does not describe it as a direct deliverer of apprenticeship training programmes.