THE British education system is not providing young people with the skills they need to enter the workplace, say 75% of firms in a new poll.

The finding is from a survey of 28 major UK companies, including HSBC, Santander and BT, by Young Enterprise.

The report also found that 59% of firms felt the education system was poor at developing young people’s entrepreneurial skills; 64% thought it was poor at developing financial skills, and 39% said it was ‘very important’ for business to be involved in young people’s education.

When asked what, if any, skills young people lacked that they needed to be employable comments included: “Too many to list’’ and “The soft skills to enable them to think outside the box. They need mentors and role models to see why people are successful.’’

Young Enterprise chairman Ian Smith said: “With a million young people unemployed in this country, this powerful research is a wake-up call.

“Young recruits are presenting themselves for interview without the vital employability skills that employers look for.

“Too many businesses are using this lack as an excuse to employ foreign workers or shift work abroad.”

He added: “We believe the Government needs to adjust its approach.

“It should put enterprise education on the formal national curriculum.”