The Campus CMI is an employer-led course offering qualifications in Team Leading (GCSE equivalent) and First Line Management (A-level standard) through working with schools and FE colleges throughout the UK.

Christopher Kinsella, acting chief executive at the CMI, said: "Leaders in industry and government have highlighted that young people are simply not ready for the world of work when they complete their education.

"In a desperately difficult job market we need to be doing everything we can to help young people, which is why I'm delighted that CMI has taken the initiative and that the Campus CMI has proved so popular amongst staff, students and employers."

According to Kinsella, graduates with experience in leadership skills can stand out in an interview stage as well as becoming more developed and successful individuals.

"The UK spends less on management training than its European counterparts and by addressing this issue as early as possible, we can take vital steps to counter this deep rooted failure," he added.

Meanwhile, the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD) has warned that 2011 school leavers are being put to the back of the hiring queue as more employers take on migrant workers, because of the belief among companies that young people in the UK lack the necessary skills to make them employable.

Gerwyn Davies, public policy advisor for the CIPD, said "At a time when many school leavers will be looking for work and the number of job opportunities is falling, youth unemployment could increase more sharply in the coming months.

"The government therefore needs to redouble efforts to ensure the education and skills system is fit for purpose to ensure young people can find a foothold in an increasingly competitive jobs market."

Ben Spencer