The Greater Lincolnshire Combined County Authority - Employment and Skills Board was scheduled to discuss the devolution of adult skills funding and the appointment of co-opted members. The meeting's agenda also included information on Skills Bootcamps and public questions.

Adult Skills Funding Devolution

The Board was scheduled to receive a report providing information about additional devolved skills funding for Skills Bootcamps. The report recommended a process for programme delivery from 1 April 2026 to mitigate uncertainty and delay. The report suggested supporting the continuation of the Greater Lincolnshire Skills Bootcamp programme until July 2027. It also proposed delegating authority to the Chief Operating Officer to allocate Skills Bootcamp funding, in consultation with the Chairman of the Employment and Skills Board and the Mayor, subject to budget approval. Furthermore, the report recommended endorsing the continuation of the programme through a service level agreement with Lincolnshire County Council.

The Skills Bootcamp programme, which offers training up to Level 5, requires participants to secure a job offer after completing a predetermined training period. The Greater Lincolnshire programme has been noted as one of the top-performing nationally, with a high progression rate into employment or promotion. The report highlighted that a delay in confirming the programme's continuation could lead to a decline in awareness and demand.

Appointment of Co-opted Members

A report was scheduled to be presented recommending a process for the Board to appoint non-voting co-opted members. The Board was expected to consider approving two nominations: Neal Juster, Vice-Chancellor of the University of Lincoln, and Mark Locking, Principal and Chief Executive Officer of the Lincoln College Group. The report also outlined a plan for officers to progress a recruitment process for two additional non-voting members. These appointments are intended to ensure the Board has business and education representation in its decision-making processes.

Public Questions

The agenda indicated that the Board would receive questions from the public. Members of the public were required to submit questions in advance, by 14 January 2026, to democraticServices@lincolnshire.gov.uk. The total time allocated for questions and answers was limited to 30 minutes.

Minutes of the Previous Meeting

The Board was scheduled to review the minutes of its previous meeting, which took place on 15 October 2025.