Youth and experience are combining to help replenish a skills shortage in West Cumbria. 

Students at the Energy Coast University Technical College at Lillyhall have started working with major local employer, Nuvia. 

The engineering company is sponsoring a new computer aided design classroom as well as providing every student with a USB memory stick. 

Guy Shackleton, Nuvia's corporate communications manager, says its connection to the college worked well for both sides. 

"We have to acknowledge there are shortages when it comes to science, technology, engineering and maths skills. 

"Clearly there is a significant need for these skills in the nuclear industry, and to us at Nuvia, and UTC is helping to fill that gap. 

"The relationship with UTC has more than just an industry perspective, there's a social element too.

"It benefits the students but also the local community too in terms of employment and the social skills the students pick up at college." 

The sponsorship also helps to take pressure off the college's social benefit fund, which assists those in need of support to study there. 

Nichola Frazer, business director at UTC, said the importance of the sponsorship and collaboration with Nuvia could not be underestimated. 

"The social benefit fund helps every student in the college and we don't want any of our students or potential students to be disadvantaged. 

"As far as the relationship between UTC and companies like Nuvia, you can't put a value on what the employers give to the students in terms of time and effort. 

"And students can see the employment opportunities that are out there through the input of the employers. 

"It also means we can make sure the skills our students are learning are the ones needed by local employers. 

"Students and staff alike feel lucky to be working with businesses such as Nuvia in West Cumbria."