Employers under the illusion new recruits must be 'ready made'

The IT skills shortage is at its highest level ever and shows no sign of abating despite the recent staff cuts at tech firms, according to research out today from LloydsTSB bank.

Natalie Calvert, MD of call centre consultancy Calcom, summed up the general feeling when pressed about the skills shortage technology firms are currently facing. She said: "Its time for companies to stop looking for the ready made employee, they must be prepared to invest in an employee right from day one."

The sentiment was echoed by Rene Carayol, CEO of ebusiness consultancy Voodoo, who said: "Companies still focus on a skill set, not the person. Let's stop looking for the complete article, it just doesn't work."

Carayol said that research uncovered by Voodoo showed that there is simply not enough people going through academic institutes, studying technology degrees and not enough role models. Carayol said: "Bill Gates isn't exactly driving people into the tech world."

"If we look at the way e-education is going the fundamental problem is the average age of the UK teacher is 50-plus years old. Kids know more than teachers, that's a problem waiting to explode for us," he added.