More than eight in 10 IT professionals are oblivious to national skills initiatives in place to help them develop their career.

Some 79 per cent of IT workers believed there should be a professional body for IT skills management - there are several - while 83 per cent were unaware any existed, according to research by The Training Camp.

The findings come despite ongoing government initiatives to improve the UK skills base to secure future global competitiveness, and a variety of skills-focused organisations promoting their services, such as the BCS and e-Skills UK.

Last month, the government announced a plan for implementing the recommendations of the Leitch Review of Skills, including a comprehensive framework for career management help for individuals.

The UK skills shortage continues to hit the headlines, said The Training Camp chief executive Robert Chapman.

‘The majority of people feel that a nationally-recognised framework would enable us to standardise skill sets across the profession,’ he said.

‘We have the mechanisms in place to alleviate the skills shortage, we just need to ensure the public knows about them otherwise we’re fighting a losing battle.'