A-level students have been urged to pay more consideration to a future career path, according to Carol Frost, HR director at Centrica.

On the day A-level students receive their grades up and down the country, Frost says: “Today marks an important milestone for students across the UK as they decide whether to go onto further education or enter the jobs market.

“My main advice to these students – whether they decide to continue studying or start working – is to start thinking about their chosen career path and what they can start doing now to get ahead and stand out from the crowd when it comes to landing that all important first job. While good grades are an advantage, softer skills like team working and project management are highly valued by prospective employers, as well as relevant work experience in your chosen field.

“At Centrica, we take on around 70 summer placement students a year and give them hands on experience working in the energy industry to help pave the way for their future career. As a leading graduate employer, our schemes allow graduates to develop both their technical and softer skills as well as offering a high degree of responsibility.”

Kevin Green, chief executive at the Recruitment & Employment Confederation, adds: “Good marks are still important indicators of students’ academic capabilities and potential. However, increasingly we hear from employers that too many young people don’t have the communications or people skills that are essential in today’s workplace. They are simply not ready for employment.

“This creates a real danger for the UK’s long-term economy because if school leavers are not able to compete effectively in the UK jobs market, then employers will not take the risk in employing them.

“In such critical times, the government abolished the £203m Connexions budget for youth career advice and slashed funding for one-to-one guidance believing that a cut-price, all-age national careers service will provide the adequate solution.

“We believe that this was a very short-sighted decision. It risks sending young people into further education or the jobs market blindfolded, lacking the basic understanding of what employers want and without the tools to fulfil their promise and potential.”