Smaller enterprises in the UK are facing skills shortages despite relatively high levels of unemployment.

This is the claim made by the Federation of Small Businesses (FSB), which has launched an inquiry along with the All Party Parliamentary Small Business Group (Small Business APPG) that will look at issues surrounding entrepreneurship in the country.

A poll conducted by the FSB discovered 27 per cent of small firms found it difficult to find employees with the right talents when they started out.

Something that could lead to more engineering jobs in the UK is the government's current focus on innovation, technology and science, as outlined in a recent strategy document.

Chairman of the Small Business APPG Brian Binley commented: "I am hopeful that this inquiry will go some way to addressing the challenges of rising youth unemployment and the skills crisis we have."

Secretary-general of the Paris-based Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) Angel Gurria welcomed the Innovation and Research Strategy for Growth as coming "at a crucial moment".

Posted by Alex Donnell