A YouGov poll has found that 52 per cent of employers consider graduates to be ill-prepared for the world of work.

Common complaints by employers included new employees not being ‘work ready’ and graduates lacking basic skills for the workplace including punctuality, communication abilities and teamwork skills. This is despite the hugely competitive recruitment processes required for graduate recruitment programmes.

The findings of the poll also revealed the priorities of employers when looking at a candidate's university results. The course studied was the key factor for two thirds of employers whilst just 8 per cent said they prioritised the reputation of the university.

Contrary to this figures released by the Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA) show a disparity between the proportions of graduates employed from different universities. There was welcome news for Cambridge students: 95 per cent of Cambridge graduates last year were employed or in further education six months post-graduation. Comparably 21 per cent of University of East London students were unemployed six months after graduating.

Alastair McCall, one of the editors of The Good University Guide, said: “With the typical degree now costing £27,000 in tuition fees alone, students have a right to be better prepared for the battleground that is the graduate jobs market.”

“University prospectuses are now full of programmes and initiatives promising to give students more than just a degree. They say they will equip students with the skills they need to make them more attractive to employers.”