Employers and education providers must form better partnerships to reduce the UK skills gap, according to the British Chambers of Commerce (BCC).

President of the BCC, Bill Midgley said that further education (FE) organisations should be utilised more fully and effectively by business.

Janet Rogers, head of employee engagement at Preston College, underlined the “information gap” between education and industry.

Learning and Skills Council chairman, Christopher Banks, however, said that debated that the further education sector was beginning to work more closely with UK business.

The organisation has invested £10.4bn in learning programmes in the past few years. Just last week Education Secretary, Ruth Kelly launched a body aimed at improving FE standards.