An engineering expert with experience of working with major global brands is confident of producing the workforce needed to plug a major skills gap as part of a new course at Northampton College.

Roberto Pareccini is hoping the HNC Building Services Engineering course, scheduled to start this September at Booth Lane, will prove popular with both workers and employers alike.

He has appealed to companies across Northamptonshire to encourage staff to sign up for the course on a day release' basis, giving them the opportunity to pick up new skills which they can then put into practice back in the workplace.

He said: I am looking forward to helping add to the skills of employees across the county. I started working as an apprentice myself and worked my way through the company to the point where I was managing 15 engineers. I have been on the journey and I am keen to pass on that experience to today's workforce.