Research published today suggests that Britain is facing an information technology skills crisis.

A study of more than 3,200 companies, undertaken by e-skills UK, the industry body representing IT, telecoms and contact centre employers, and Gartner Consulting, found that the UK will be unable to compete internationally in 10 years' time.

"The IT industry is in growth, but there is still a misperception, to do with the dotcom boom and bust, that there are not enough employment opportunities," said Margaret Sambell, director of strategy at e-skills.