Executives from Yelp, Twitter and Boughtbymany are to help people gain the skills needed to work in start-up businesses under a new programme run by the Startup Institute in London.

The inaugural course will start on 6 October and will also feature experts from Episode1, MassChallange, citysocializer and Pivotal Labs. The course will cover marketing, web development, product development, sales and account management.

Katarina Jones, associate director of the Startup Institute in London, said the course would help to plug the yawning skills gap facing London’s businesses, particularly in the growing technology sector.

“Finding the right talent is a real issue for tech startups in the capital and is a serious threat to London’s long-term position as the leading startup hub in Europe,” she said.

“We’re thrilled to be here and to be working with such a high calibre of partners, but we’re just one small solution to a much larger issue.

“Business leaders and policymakers across the UK need to recognise the role of startups in our economy and ensure we’re producing a workforce fit to drive forward these emerging businesses.”

The Startup Institute says it has experienced high demand for its course, with three applicants for every available place.