The University Technical College Cambridge and others will help fill the skills gap identified by UK employers, says former education secretary Lord Baker.

A new Employer Skills Survey reports that one in five job vacancies are unfilled because employers cannot find workers with the right skills.

According to the research by the UK Commission for Employment and Skills, many employers are still finding it hard to recruit people with the right skills, despite job vacancies returning to pre-recession levels

Lord Baker, Chairman of Baker Dearing Educational Trust which initiated UTCs – specialist colleges for 14 to 19 year-olds – said the research highlighted the importance of UTCs in providing relevant skills.

UTC Cambridge, which opens in September, will specialise in teaching biomedical and environmental science and technology, working closely with employers to fill a regional skills gap.

“University Technical Colleges are leading the way by offering high-quality Science, Engineering and Technical education alongside core subjects such as English and Maths,” said Lord Baker.

“The UK CES Employer Skills Survey confirms that organisations find it hard to recruit the skilled people they need. It also claims skills shortages are getting worse and may be holding back the UK’s economic recovery.

“Such deficiencies have persisted over time in some sectors and occupations making the need for home-grown talent greater than ever. This underlines the importance of new opportunities at 14+, led and supported by employers.”

Seventeen UTCs are already open, with another 43 planned – bringing the total to 50 by 2016.

UTC Cambridge, which is currently taking applications for entry in Years 10 and 12, will teach GCSEs, A levels and BTEC qualifications, alongside innovative, industry-led Challenge Projects.

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