Over three-quarters of business employers look for graduates with workplace experience and ‘employability skills', according to a report by the Confederation of British Industry (CBI).

The report highlighted that graduates seeking employment in the current economic climate must have ‘employability skills' such as self-management, business and customer awareness, team working and problem solving.

"Of course, businesses don't expect graduates to arrive on day one fully trained, but what they do value in graduates are their people skills, a focus on the customer and a keenness to solve problems,' said Richard Lambert, head of the CBI.

"It's no good graduates regretting not taking up opportunities once they leave university - many universities are keen to help them gain work experience during their degree."