Over three in five IT professionals believe there is a skills shortage in the UK, according to IT jobsite CWJobs.co.uk.

The survey respondents felt that their own businesses had a more immediate ability to combat the shortage, with 28% feeling it could be resolved with more businesses being encouraged to offer IT apprenticeships and 20% suggesting it was necessary to improve the quality of secondary and further IT education.

The survey adds that 70% of IT professionals felt Britain was an attractive place for international IT jobseekers.

Richard Nott, website director at CWJobs, says: “It’s been a year since the Tech City initiative was announced, and this has undoubtedly helped to position London as the digital capital of Europe.

“However, if we are to take on Silicon Valley it’s imperative that the government invests in helping young IT pros to skill-up, as well as investing in tech businesses.”