From next September, the Dyson Institute of Technology is to offer engineering degrees.

James Dyson will open an Institute of Technology that will offer free engineering degrees along with paid jobs at Dyson’s development and research campus in Wiltshire.

Under the new plans set out by the Department of Education in a recent white paper, the Dyson Institute of Technology will apply for degree awarding powers, which will allow it to become a new university.

Dyson is hoping to use the institute to tackle the growing skills shortage of the industry and foster the next generation of engineers as he looks to double the engineering team at Dyson by 2020.

Applications are now open for the first cohort of engineering students to begin in September next year.

Through the institute, Dyson is set to invest £15 million over the course of the next five years and is planning to offer the “brightest aspiring engineers” a viable alternative to a traditional university degree.

The new degree will combine academic learning with hands on experience with the development of Dyson products along with the current engineering team of 3,000 at Dyson.

The idea behind the scheme is for students to come away from higher education without any debts, having earned a salary throughout their studies, and with the prospect of earning a full graduate wage having completed the four year scheme.

James Dyson commented: “The UK’s skills shortage is holding Dyson back as we look to increase the amount of technology we develop and export from the UK. We are taking matters into our own hands. The new degree course offers academic theory, a real-world job and salary, and access to experts in their field.”

Dyson engineers and WMG Warwick University developed the bespoke engineering degree, with the aim of bridging the gap between academia and industry.