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A fantastic session with exceptional engagement from manufacturers across the region
The first Kent & Medway Manufacturing Focus Group (KMFG) of 2026 brought together an energised community of local manufacturers, skills partners, and sector specialists for a forward‑looking and insight‑rich session. Hosted at the Village Hotel, Maidstone, the event provided a timely overview of the evolving landscape for engineering and manufacturing, and the opportunities ahead for our region.
Setting the Scene
Camilla Maurice from the Kent Invicta Chamber of Commerce opened the session, highlighting the importance of continued collaboration between industry and the Kent & Medway LSIP. With an agenda spanning national policy, workforce challenges, and sector‑specific skills needs, the morning delivered a wealth of valuable takeaways for employers of all sizes.
Manufacturing Update – Make UK
Rose Sargent, Policy Adviser (EDI Lead) at Make UK, offered a comprehensive look at the current state of UK manufacturing and what lies ahead:
Her presentation highlighted a sector ready to invest, provided there is stability and clarity in national policy.
Enginuity: Building Kent’s Engineering Future
Jeff Baker from Enginuity presented a data‑driven look at engineering skills needs across Kent and Medway, reinforcing the urgency of coordinated action:
Enginuity outlined the wide range of support available to businesses, from funding access and digital skills training to policy advocacy and partnership‑building with education providers.
LSIP Update – Recent Activity and 2026 Development Work
Closing the session, Camilla Maurice provided a comprehensive update on the development of the new Kent & Medway Local Skills Improvement Plan (LSIP) for 2026–2029. Significant progress has been made across several key workstreams:
Sector Skills Roundtables
Throughout November and December, the LSIP team delivered a full programme of sector‑specific roundtables across Kent and Medway. These sessions gathered employer‑led intelligence on current and emerging skills pressures and helped shape the priority themes for the new LSIP.
Telemarketing Campaign
A major outreach and engagement campaign captured insights from around 500 businesses—primarily SMEs—on current and future skills needs. This has generated a rich dataset on workforce confidence, skills shortages, and training priorities across the region.
Skills Survey Launched
To widen employer participation, a refreshed Skills Survey is now live. Responses will complement intelligence gathered through direct employer engagement and provider consultation.
First Draft of the New LSIP (End of March)
The first draft of the 2026–2029 LSIP is well underway. Early versions draw upon roundtable feedback, survey results, and telemarketing insights. This accelerated development process aligns with updated Skills England timelines.
Full LSIP Submission – May 2026
The LSIP team is preparing the full submission for Skills England, which will be delivered in May as part of the national planning cycle.
Publication – July 2026
Once reviewed and approved, the refreshed Kent & Medway LSIP will be published in July 2026. This will set out a strengthened three‑year strategic plan to support skills development, employer needs, and economic growth across the region.
A Highly Engaged KMFG
Today’s KMFG was defined by its strong engagement and shared commitment to strengthening Kent & Medway’s manufacturing sector. While the session was primarily presentation‑led, the strong interest, focus and enthusiasm in the room demonstrated exactly why these events remain such a valuable forum for industry insight and connection.
Looking Ahead
As we move further into 2026—with major reforms, economic shifts, and technological advancements ahead—the KMFG community continues to play a critical role in shaping a responsive, resilient, and future‑ready skills system for the region.
