Over half of students at top UK universities cannot name a single SME (small or medium-sized enterprise), according to a survey from internship recruitment agency Instant Impact Interns.

However, 64% of the students surveyed also said that wanted to start their career at an SME and the Chancellor George Osborne’s Autumn Statement highlighted the importance of such firms in stimulating economic recovery.

Rob Blythe, directors of Instant Impact Interns, says: “George Osborne has announced plans to stimulate economic recovery by getting ‘credit flowing to Britain’s small businesses’. But to sustain their growth we also need to get talent flowing to Britain’s small businesses.”

Co-director Felix Mitchell adds: “There is currently no infrastructure in place for students to find opportunities at these smaller firms.

“The graduate employment market is still dominated by the ‘bulge bracket’, the ‘big four’ and the ‘magic circle’. It is extremely difficult for SMEs to compete in such a noisy market place – they need to develop a brand identity.”