In a blow to university leavers searching for their first full-time job, a new survey has shown that most small and medium-sized enterprises have no plans to recruit graduates in 2010.
The research saw 500 businesses asked by the Centre for Enterprise about their intentions for the new year and found that almost nine in every ten do not plan to invest in graduate recruitment.
Federation of Small Businesses spokesperson Prue Watson suggested that the findings might not be entirely accurate.
"Small businesses are planning to hire graduates in the coming year. In a recent survey of the Federation of Small Businesses members, one in five said they planned to take on a graduate intern," she revealed.
Ms Watson added that such companies know that graduates can bring skills to the business and can also offer university leavers an "excellent working environment".
She said graduates offer small businesses a "great opportunity" and that the FSB wants to see more former students choosing such firms for internships.
