Up to one-fifth of recent graduates end up working in unskilled or semi-skilled jobs.

And as many as one in 10 graduates are still out of work six months after leaving university.

In the light of statistics such as these, from the Institute of Education, and the huge hike in university tuition fees, increasing numbers of would-be students are thinking hard about their options.

While the university experience has never been about simply preparing for the world of work there are signs that more young people are now looking at vocational degrees or subjects with a link to a profession and the numbers choosing an apprenticeship over a degree are slowly increasing.

According to the Universities and Colleges Admission Service, demand for arts and humanities degrees has fallen over the past five years, while there has been a significant rise in applications for medicine, medicine-related subjects, engineering, science and business courses.

Outside academia, there has been a rush of interest in apprenticeship schemes that allow young people to enjoy paid employment while training.

 Marks & Spencer, for example, had 3,000 applications for just 30 school-leaver trainee posts this year.

Many of the country’s biggest companies – including banks, accountancy firms and pharmaceutical businesses – have increased the size of their school-leaver programmes in response to an increase in applications. Some schemes offer young people the chance to go on to take a degree while working.

The Confederation of British Industry says sixth formers are weighing up whether they want to be saddled with £30,000 or more of debt and universities are now competing with business for the brightest pupils.

On the A level results day last week up to 40% of the callers to the Exam Results Helpline at UCAS were asking about other options to university.

Thirty or 40 years ago only 15% of school leavers went on to study at university and a degree was seen as the pathway to a well-paid professional career.

Since New Labour set a target of getting 50% of young people into higher education – just about achieved – a university degree has been the focus of many students taking A levels. But increasing numbers of employers are now questioning the value of some degrees.

While it’s true that youth unemployment is high – in Kirklees there are more than 4,000 people aged between 18 and 24 out of work – some industry sectors are eagerly searching for new talent and want school leavers.

One training provider in the Kirklees and Calderdale area has just taken on its highest number of engineering apprentices in the last decade.

Kirkdale Industrial Training Services Ltd, a not-for-profit organisation based in Brighouse, says the demand for high-quality engineering apprentices in the area has never been higher.

According to Leanne Pannett, employment engagement advisor for KIT, which has a 35-year history in the sector, of the 100 new trainees on its Engineering Apprenticeship Programme up to 20% have A level grades that could have taken them to university.

“They have thought about the option of going on a degree course but have worked out the costs,” she said.

“They don’t see a degree as the be all and end all. Young people are getting more savvy and are looking for sponsorship. Some can do a degree later on while they are getting paid to work.”

Each year the organisation sifts through 600 or more applications for places on its four-year apprenticeship scheme, which provides local companies with trainees in a number of engineering fields – from mechanical and electrical to motor vehicle and fabrication.

David Todhunter, chief executive of KIT, says the recession has had an effect on how young people view apprenticeships.

 “There has been a slow realisation from parents and young people that degrees are not always the way forward,” he said.

“There is a big emphasis on the recovery of the country relating to manufacturing and engineering and parents are helping to steer children into educational training. They see that some of the ‘softer’ degree courses aren’t very useful.”

As well as developing practical work skills, KIT also aims to foster a good work ethic among trainees – something that employers say they want. For example, trainees’ punctuality is monitored. “Attitude is very important,” added David.

Such is the demand for engineers at all levels that the industry is working hard to attract more young women. At KIT Leanne organises diversity seminars in the hope of attracting girls into the workforce.

 “At the moment we only have one girl out of 100 trainees,” she explained.

“Schools have a huge responsibility to get the message across but I think a lot have out-dated ideas of what engineering is like.”

It’s not just the engineering sector that needs new blood. At the Huddersfield-based Textile Centre of Excellence there’s a constant drive to find apprentices for the textile industry.

According to Angela Keenan, training and learning team administrator, there are opportunities all around the country.

“I’ve got about 10 vacancies at the moment for apprentices that I’m struggling to fill,” she said.

“We get graduates applying but they don’t seem to be aware that training is only fully-funded by the Government if someone starts training up to the age of 19 – and employers are therefore loathe to take on anyone over the age of 19.”

Although many textile apprenticeships only require basic GCSEs, the industry also has advanced apprenticeships for school leavers with an interest in subjects such as chemistry and maths. They can become a laboratory assistant for a dyeing company, for instance, and get involved in testing.

“It’s quite a skilled job,” said Angela.

“We have an ageing workforce and companies want young blood to be the future managers.  An apprenticeship is a hands-on way to learn and get a qualification. University is not for everyone.”

Kirklees College has long provided an option to university to those with GCSEs and A levels.

The college currently boasts that it has seen a 300% increase in the number of apprenticeships it supports – up to 1,500 at the moment.

New engineering apprentices at Kirkdale Industrial Training Services Ltd in Brighouse
New engineering apprentices at Kirkdale Industrial Training Services Ltd in Brighouse

Students can study while working in a number of fields – from accounting and catering to engineering and hairdressing.

But, once again, it is engineering that is offering the most opportunities locally for high calibre students.

 Lucy Edwards from the college’s marketing department explained: “We have seen an increase in students who might have chosen a degree but are now considering an apprenticeship and a job. They don’t come out with debt.

“Feedback from local employers in the area is that they want people who are ready to work.  People with degrees might have the academic ability, but are they ready to step into a job?”

Peter McCann, principal at Kirklees College added: “It is clear that the demand for apprenticeships from both young people, generally aged 16-21, and employers has increased.

“I’m sure that earning while you work towards an industry recognised qualification, often at an equivalent level to a degree, is very appealing for young people leaving school and college.”

Two friends from Greenhead College will be taking steps in entirely different directions after receiving their A level results last week.

And their choices highlight the fact that while more would-be students are choosing vocational courses other young people are opting out of university altogether.

Natalie Henry, 18, from Brighouse, got As in maths and biology and a B in chemistry after being predicted three As. She had been offered a place to study medicine at Liverpool University.

Because of the B grade, Natalie thought her chances of being accepted were gone and went on to the UCAS website to seek alternative courses.

To her amazement, however, Liverpool had held her offer open. She said: “I just wasn’t expecting it and I cried when I saw the offer. I’m still in shock.

“I worked ridiculously hard to try and get the grades, and when I got a B I thought I’d have to go for my insurance choice, which was biomedical science at Kings College, London.”

Her friend Sam Green, also 18, from Holmfirth, was on track for ACC grades in his A levels but ended up with a B in maths, C in chemistry and D in physics.

Although he didn’t make the grades, Sam is optimistic about his future. On August 1 he started an apprenticeship as a mechanical engineer with Huddersfield company Broadbents.

It’s a three-year course with block and day release at college and the option to convert to a degree at the end of it, giving him the best of both worlds.

He said: “I was disappointed with my results, but I have a job. It’s a good career path, we need engineers nowadays.

“I wanted a break from education. I can’t always concentrate in the classroom, but it is a lot easier to focus when it is physical and you can see the application.”

Students who want to study for a full-time degree AND leave university ready for employment need to find an establishment that offers sandwich courses or work placements.

That’s the advice from Stephen Boyd, head of the careers service at the University of Huddersfield.

Not all universities provide work experience for students, but Huddersfield is a leader in the field – a winner of the Times Higher Education Entrepreneurial University of the Year award.

All courses in Huddersfield come with the option of work experience or a year’s placement in commerce or industry.

Stephen explained: “You don’t have to be doing a vocational degree, you can still study history or English and have work experience or take a professional practice module. Many have a 12-month sandwich placement.

“Not all universities do this but it’s a choice that a lot of students are now factoring in during their decision making. They want to be work-ready.”

Stephen stresses that over 93% of students from Huddersfield go on to further study, employment or both after graduating and that the university is in the top 10 of English mainstream universities for employment success.

He also points out that a degree still confers lifelong benefits. What’s more, the Institute of Education has estimated that more than 25% of jobs are now only available to graduates.

Stephen said: “Research has shown that by going to university your earning profile will be greater than that of a non-graduate – and that the gap, rather than narrowing, is increasing. The graduate premium is even more marked for women students.”

 Research at the universities of Lancaster and Kent has found that – taking into account an initial investment (fees, loans etc) a female graduate will earn 52% more over their working lifetime than a female non-graduate.

The comparative figure for males is 28% more.

Figures released by Ucas also showed that 27% of the 18-year-old age group in England had found university places, along with 30% of the same age cohort in Northern Ireland and 23% in Scotland and 24% in Wales. So far, nearly 20,000 places have been accepted by candidates in other EU countries, and 27,000 from students from countries outside the EU.