British graduates lack the basic skills needed to join the workforce

The survey "Business education survey 2011 - Freshminds poll of 28 top UK companies for Young Enterprise" carried out by by the Young Enterprise charity in the UK show that three out of four firms (75%) feel the British education system is not equipping young people with the skills they need to enter the workforce.

Researchers found that thousands of young people arrive at interviews without the "vital employability skills" required by employers such as having a suitable grasp of English, being punctual and having a general "can do" attitude.

Young Enterprise charity chairman Ian Smith said that the situation is getting worse because the Department for Education is adopting an alarmingly narrow focus on academic skills and exams.

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