More must be done to narrow the skills gap in engineering, which is hampering Dyson’s big plans for expansion in Malmesbury, according to The Institution of Mechanical Engineers (IME).

The technology firm wants to expand its headquarters off Tetbury Hill, eventually increasing its workforce by 3,000. However, Dyson is already struggling to recruit, with figures from the IME showing a shortfall of about 100,000 engineers a year.

The IME is calling on the Government, engineering institutions and academia to ‘get their act together’ and help boost numbers of people entering engineering.

A spokesman for Dyson said: “Dyson is built on research and development but future growth is hampered by an acute shortage of engineers in the UK and a pressing need for further space to expand our existing research and development facilities.

“Although we have strong connections with local universities, bright, highly skilled engineers are in increasingly short supply.”