In order to generate more economic growth, the UK government has unveiled plans to target funding at areas of industry that are suffering skills shortages.

A total of £20 million has been earmarked for employer-led schemes that will lead to more people being qualified in areas such as renewable energy, hospitality, active leisure, science-based industries and nuclear power.

"This investment will help employers develop their own solutions to the barriers that stand in the way of opportunity," skills minister John Hayes declared.

Individuals seeking engineering jobs in the UK may also be interested in recent comments made by the Institution of Mechanical Engineering, which has declared that the UK could require as many as 19,000 extra graduates in the subject each year to meet future demand.

However, the organization noted there is currently a shortfall in this area and projects such as creating a high speed rail network and installing more nuclear power generation could be placed in jeopardy unless action is taken, in addition to the possible damage a talent gap could do to the manufacturing, transport and energy industries.

Posted by Alex Donnell