Engineering bosses call for 'development of local talent'
04-03-2008
Engineering companies in the north-east of England have called for greater focus on equipping local workers with more skills.
Following the implementation of a new points-based scheme regarding the employment of migrant workers, one top boss in the sector told the Evening Gazette his foreign employees already reach the right standard and said attention should swing to home-grown talent.
Managing director of Stockton-based Wolviston Group Robin Davison noted that a number of highly-skilled foreign workers are based at his company.
However, Mr Davison called for more to be done to help local workers.
"We need to concentrate on increasing the local skills base," he said.
"I would like to see the government introduce apprenticeships for mature people and provide more funding for employers to retrain staff."
Gary Watson of New Group added that the new system should boost the skills of the local workforce.
A spokesperson for the Federation of Small Businesses recently suggested that small businesses are heavily reliant of migrant workers.
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