SKILLED Polish migrants will be given a better chance of working in well-paid jobs across the North-East with the launch of a business next month.

Tom Cosh believes that recognising the talent among the thousands of qualified Polish migrants willing to work in the region is key to plugging the impending skills gap.

Such is his passion, he is leaving his role as head of Newcastle City Technology to set up EkspertBiz, which will channel Polish workers with technical expertise into well-paid jobs in engineering and IT.

"I see a huge opportunity in helping motivated, multi-lingual, technically-qualified migrant workers, who are both prepared to come to the North-East or are already here, to meet the demand for skilled workers," he said.

"We need to capture the commitment of migrants here who are working in relatively low paid jobs but already have significant academic and professional qualifications."

EkspertBiz will be launched next month and Mr Cosh is looking to form partnerships with businesses in the North-East and Poland.

"There are many qualified people leaving university who are choosing not to stay in the region - they are perhaps attracted by the higher wages in the South-East," said Mr Cosh.

"There is a clear skills gap developing and there are opportunities for skilled people within the European Union to work in the North-East and help strengthen its economy."

Mr Cosh will feature on television documentary Northern Eye - The New North Easterners next week.

The programme will look at the thousands of Polish people moving to the region to find work, many of whom are highly educated, but are taking jobs in bars or factories, or as cleaners, and being paid five times more than they would back home.

It will also examine the opportunities available to entrepreneurs from the North-East looking to do business in Poland and speak to Newcastle-born John Borrell, who emigrated to the country 13 years ago. He has built a luxury hotel and owns Poland's biggest mail order wine business.

He said: "I think there are enormous opportunities for British people to go into business in Poland. UK companies are taking advantage of opportunities from food production to building and running of ports."

Northern Eye will be screened on ITV at 8pm, on Monday.