Dyson: 60,000 Engineering Graduate Deficiency

The Entrepreneur said that the government needs to be doing more to encourage and attract the brightest and best into science and engineering.

He told the Radio Times magazine "More worrying is that 85% of all engineering and science postgraduates in our universities come from outside the UK.  Yet nine in 10 leave the UK after they finish their studies. British knowledge is simply taken abroad."

"Engineering postgraduates need to be encouraged with generous salaries. A salary of £7,000 a year for postgraduate research is insulting."

In response a spokesman for the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills said: "Engineering graduates go into a range of sectors, including financial services and retail as well as manufacturing. "We are working closely with industry and continue to look at various ways to support engineering at all levels, including engagement in schools, apprenticeships and postgraduate training."

"Applications for engineering courses at university have held up this year"