A leading Norwich businessman wants the University of East Anglia to offer engineering degrees to help generate the talent needed to give the region's energy industry a golden future.

George Morrison, managing director of Aquaterra Energy, called for united support on the issue at the annual EEEGR 08 conference staged by the East of England Energy Group on 10th July.

Mr Morrison said the lack of an engineering faculty at the UEA was an obvious weakness for the region: "If we want a sustainable industry, I believe our regional voices, such as EEEGR, should make this a priority target. For our graduate needs, this would be like bringing water to the desert."

He said that this year his company had advertised in UK universities to recruit six graduate engineers for various areas of work. It had attracted 150 CVs - but only six of them from British nationals, an imbalance which he could not ignore.

"The nearest top engineering university to Great Yarmouth is Cambridge which, at 83 miles, is about as far away from any such institution as it is possible to get in England," he said.

It came at a time when there was a chance for the energy industry to build on 40 years of activities in the southern North Sea which had left the region with a real wealth in terms of experience and expertise.

Around 90 per cent of Aquaterra's turnover was generated through export contracts.

"I believe the East of England can rightly claim to offer world leading engineering skills and this experience and skill level is very sellable abroad, he added.

His words prompted a lively debate and also a suggestion that companies could now set up their own engineering degree schemes with university support.

John Best, EEEGR chief executive, said the best way forward was for the industry to speak with one coordinated voice through its Skills for Energy Partnership.

Johnathan Reynolds, sustainable development manager for EEDA (East of England Development Agency), outlined to the conference how the agency was using its influence to encourage sustainable energy and low carbon growth.

And he too emphasised the importance of innovation and the need for skills to embrace a strategy for a 60per cent reduction in the country's CO2 levels by 2031 (from a 1990 base figure) and an 80 per cent reduction by 2050 - and all without impacting on business growth.

To read the full conference reports go to http://www.eeegr.com/events/info.php?refnum=517&startnum=A0