Bhubaneswar, Aug 1: UK-based organisations may soon impart expertise training to develop skills of youngsters in the state.

Firms like City and Guilds, Pearson and UK Skills will hold interactive sessions with youngsters and help explore business opportunities.

An eight-member delegation from UK arrived in the state today to strengthen links and promote business in the state in the field of education.

An interactive session was held with members of Odisha Skill Development Authority and representatives of the state government, in which the UK companies demonstrated about their operations and revealed how their products and services can bridge skills gap in the state.

The visit titled "UK Skills Caravan" was hosted to enhance knowledge in English language skills for primary and diploma level students. Besides, interaction sessions with skill providers will also be held on health care, electrical and building infrastructure. "We will take a call on the companies soon after taking into account their feasibility," said Subroto Bagchi, chairman of Odisha Skill Development Authority.

Apart from interaction with the state government, the companies will also hold meetings with private companies for education and skills partnerships.The British deputy high commissioner to eastern India, Bruce Bucknell, said the relationship between Odisha and UK is already strong but there was scope to make it even stronger.

"UK vocational skills and training providers have more than a hundred years of experience in delivering skills to people around the globe. Our focus will be to make sure that the youngsters in the state get similar opportunities," he said.

Bucknell said he was proud that the state was ready to host many of the UK's innovative skill development programmes. He was hopeful that the UK companies would find business partners and commercial opportunities in Odisha.