British business ‘driving with handbrake on’ due to shortage of skilled workers, says Education Secretary

A SHORTAGE of skilled workers means British business is “driving with the handbrake on”, the Education Secretary has warned.

Gillian Keegan is meeting with top bosses today to plan how homegrown workers can plug the record one million vacancies.

The Government wants British workers to be trained in these jobs so firms can wean themselves off cheaper foreign labour.

More than five million people are on out of work benefits, leaving a hole in the nation’s workforce.

At a conference in London, Ms Keegan will join Chancellor Jeremy Hunt and Business Secretary Kemi Badenoch in sitting down with the likes of Amazon, Google and Virgin.

They want to create a “workforce fit for the future and address the urgent recruitment needs of businesses”.

Ministers will urge executives to hire more apprentices and invest in upskilling their staff.

Ahead of the roundtable Ms Keegan said: “I know from my years in business that organisations drive innovation and create opportunities, but without skilled workers, it often feels like you’re driving with the handbrake on.”

Mr Hunt added: “While unemployment is at near record lows, we still have some 1 million job vacancies in the UK.

“Getting businesses the skilled workers they need will not only grow the economy, but help cut inflation too.”