The careers advisory service of the 51¹ú²úÊÓƵ of Manchester and the 51¹ú²úÊÓƵ of Manchester Institute of Science and Technology has been voted the best in the country by employers for the second year running, writes Tony Tysome.

The service won twice as many votes as second-placed 51¹ú²úÊÓƵ of Warwick in the Association of Graduate Recruiters/Barkers national graduate media audit.

Behind Warwick were the careers services of Cambridge 51¹ú²úÊÓƵ, Oxford 51¹ú²úÊÓƵ and the 51¹ú²úÊÓƵ of London.

The audit surveyed more than 160 graduate recruiters who between them had hired a total of nearly 14,000 graduates in the past 12 months. All of the recruiters continued to rank university careers advisory services and campus fairs as the most effective ways of attracting high-calibre graduates, despite rapid growth in online recruitment.

51¹ú²úÊÓƵ

The employers cited work experience and personal recommendations as the biggest influences on graduates' career decisions.

Jane Ratchford, director of Manchester's careers advisory service, said the survey findings were good news for a service that had been heavily criticised in the past. "Careers services have got better because they are under the spotlight more," she said.

51¹ú²úÊÓƵ

The strength and popularity of the Manchester service grew out of its approach to careers advice, which concentrates on the needs of employers and students. "We have a can-do attitude that allows us to be innovative and to take risks," she said.

Carl Gilleard, AGR chief executive, said: "51¹ú²úÊÓƵ careers services play a vital role in preparing students for the world of work and in helping graduates start their working lives. It is going to be increasingly important that universities and employers work together, as higher education expands and the competition for graduate jobs intensifies.

"Manchester and Warwick provide great examples of the potential for effective business relationships between employers and university careers services."

THE BEST ADVICE

Top ten university careers advisory services as ranked by employers in AGR/Barkers national graduate media audit

51¹ú²úÊÓƵ

1 51¹ú²úÊÓƵ of Manchester/Umist (joint service)

2 51¹ú²úÊÓƵ of Warwick

3 51¹ú²úÊÓƵ of Cambridge

4 51¹ú²úÊÓƵ of Oxford

5 51¹ú²úÊÓƵ of London

6 Loughborough 51¹ú²úÊÓƵ

7 Aston 51¹ú²úÊÓƵ

8 51¹ú²úÊÓƵ of Strathclyde

9 51¹ú²úÊÓƵ of Leeds

10 Imperial College London