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A network of professionals has been established to try and increase crucial graduate skills.

It is the first network of its kind to work in continuing professional development (CPD) in higher education.

The National CPD Network will work with universities, graduates and employers to develop the skills graduates need to progress in their professional lives.

Amanda Selvaratnam, founder of the network, told People Management: "The HE sector faces a number of challenges to make sure that graduates and professionals have the skills to meet future employment needs.

"The network will enable business and CPD managers to clearly see the effective programmes that exist in universities.

"Universities are hotbeds of innovation, so it is appropriate that forward-looking businesses should engage with them more actively."

Over 130 members have already joined the National CPD Network from 80 UK institutions of higher education.

The Leitch report into UK skills recently called for urgent alterations to skills training so that the UK economy continues to compete on a global scale.

Professional services provider KPMG recently emphasised that UK financial services firms are facing a graduate skills crisis.

A report by the firm emphasised that current graduates entering the sector are usually technically proficient, but are very often lacking in soft business skills such as effective teamwork, energy and a "can do" attitude.