Sixty per cent of senior managers across a range of UK businesses are not concerned whether or not a candidate has a degree or not, with two-thirds preferring two years’ work experience to a three-year degree.

The research, commissioned by Santander and conducted by ICM research, coincides with the launch of the bank’s Flying Start recruitment programme for school leavers, due to recruit over 30 young people this year.

But universities should not panic – well, not too much anyway, with Richard O’Flynn, talent & leadership development manager at Santander saying “we know that a university education continues to be a very effective route for many”.

See Recruiter’s new issue out Wednesday for analysis of the rise of post-A level schemes at Santander and other employers.