DIGITAL technology companies across the region have lost out on millions of pounds of business due to a lack of appropriate employee skills, according to a survey.

In a study commissioned by Codeworks Connect, the trade association for the North-East's digital industries, 60 per cent of companies said that they had lost work because their workforce did not possess the right skills to fulfil a contract or tender.

The report - Skills for Growth - also revealed that 36 per cent of companies said their skills did not meet current needs, while 77 per cent said they had no dedicated training budget.

With just over half of the companies questioned adopting an "as and when required" attitude to training, Simon King, head of sector development at Codeworks, said the findings will have negative long-term implications for the sector.

Calling for a chance in attitude he said companies should see training as a strategic necessity that helps productivity.