The Growth Scrutiny Committee of Lincolnshire Council was scheduled to meet on Tuesday, 24 March 2026, to review performance against the 2025-26 framework, discuss priorities for the food and farming sector, and examine support for manufacturing and apprenticeships. The committee was also set to review its work programme for the upcoming year.

Service Level Performance Reporting

The committee was scheduled to receive a report summarising service level performance against the 2025-26 Performance Framework as at Quarter 3. This report detailed performance indicators (PIs) for the Growth services.

• PI 69 Businesses supported by the Council: This measure exceeded its target, with 3,561 businesses supported between April and December 2025, surpassing the Quarter 3 target of 2,012. The report highlighted support provided through the Business Lincolnshire Growth Hub, the UK Shared Prosperity Funding, the Inward Investment Service, the Made Smarter Programme, the UK Food Valley Team, the Greater Lincolnshire Careers Hub, and the Economic Infrastructure Business Accommodation Portfolio.
• PI 70 Qualifications achieved by adults: This measure achieved its target, with 1,365 qualifications achieved by the end of Quarter 3, slightly below the target of 1,466 but within the 10% tolerance. The report detailed the Adult Skills funding and commissioning process, as well as quarterly performance and case studies of participants.
• PI 71 Amount of external funding attracted to Lincolnshire: This measure did not meet its target, with £6,518,275 secured by the end of Quarter 3, below the target of £9,000,000. The report attributed this shortfall to financial grant payment delays caused by changes within Government Departments and contractual delays, meaning some anticipated funding would be received in the 2026/27 financial year.

Food and Farming Sector Priorities Greater Lincolnshire

A report was scheduled to be presented by Vanessa Strange, Head of Infrastructure Investment, providing an update on Food and Farming Sector Priorities for Greater Lincolnshire. The report emphasised the strategic importance of the sector to the county's economy and UK food security. It highlighted the work of two key partnerships: the UK Food Valley (UKFV), aimed at positioning Greater Lincolnshire as a global food cluster, and the Greater Lincolnshire Forum for Agriculture & Horticulture (GLFFAH), a farmer-led forum addressing issues such as soil, water, planning, and skills. The report proposed that Lincolnshire act as a national testbed for implementing recommendations from the Batters Review, focusing on planning, water management, skills and technology adoption, and innovation. The committee was invited to consider endorsing this proposal and supporting continued council action on UKFV and GLFFAH.

Manufacturing Sector Support and Next Steps

Linsay Hill Pritchard, Strategic Programme Manager, and Jeannine Thornley, Senior Project Officer (Enterprise), were scheduled to present a report on support for Lincolnshire's manufacturing sector. The report detailed the sector's significance to the local economy, noting it is the second largest employer with a substantial contribution to Gross Value Added (GVA). It outlined the role of the Greater Lincolnshire Manufacturing Board in steering strategy and supporting the sector's growth, innovation, and competitiveness. The report also identified key challenges and opportunities, including skills shortages, the need for innovation and technology adoption, rising energy costs, supply chain resilience, and access to finance. The committee was invited to consider supporting the continued administration of the Manufacturing Board, promoting the sector's profile, noting progress on the Advanced Manufacturing Sector capital scheme, and supporting the council's leadership in the Made Smarter programme.

Increasing Participation in Work Experience, Internships and Apprenticeships

Lee Douglas, Careers Hub Lead – Strategic, was scheduled to present an update on increasing participation in work experience, internships, and apprenticeships. The report indicated that awareness is not the primary barrier to take-up, but rather system fragmentation, employer capacity constraints, wage competitiveness, and a lack of strategic oversight. The report discussed structural constraints affecting apprenticeship growth, including wage competitiveness and the supervisory burden on Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs). It also highlighted the impact of recent national reforms to apprenticeship assessment. For work experience, the report noted the pressure on employers from multiple programmes and the need for better coordination. A structured, employer-led sector internship model, similar to the Made Smarter digital internship delivery, was proposed as a scalable solution. The report also addressed Supported Internships for young people with Educational Health and Care Plans (EHCPs), noting uneven provision and the need for improved system alignment. The committee was asked to provide comments on the accuracy of the report, the proposed delivery model, how the authority can support employers, and options for extending the sector internship model.

Growth Scrutiny Committee Work Programme

Kiara Chatziioannou, Health Scrutiny Officer, was scheduled to present the committee's work programme for the coming year. The report outlined scheduled items for future meetings, including performance reporting, updates on the visitor economy, investment zones, the Youth Guarantee, and specific projects such as the Sleaford County Offices Demolition and the Economic Infrastructure Commercial Portfolio. The committee was invited to review the programme and suggest any additional scrutiny activities for consideration.