Two thirds of businesses in the East have experienced challenges hiring skilled staff, with a widening gap appearing between the skills required by employers and those demonstrated in the talent pool.

Tom Beales, director at Armultra in Great Yarmouth, said it is a “chicken and egg” scenario for businesses.

“I need the work to pay for more people, but I need to train people up for the work and, in some cases, this can take up to three or four years, but by then it’s too late,” he said.

Tom Beales, director at Armultra in Great Yarmouth (Image: Armultra) Armultra has supplied........

© Eastern Daily Press