Which UK universities are best for graduate recruitment? Hint: it's not Cambridge or Oxford

You would think graduating from Britain's top universities would put you in the best position for employment, but according to new research, leading employers are actually looking beyond Oxbridge for the brightest graduates.

Carried out in December 2013 by High Fliers, the research found that Britain’s top 100 private and public employers targeted more people from the universities of Nottingham or Manchester than they did from either Cambridge or Oxford.

According to the Times' Good University Guide, Nottingham and Manchester are the 24th and 25th best universities in the UK respectively, whereas Cambridge and Oxford rank the highest, at 1st and 2nd respectively.

Dr Paul Greatrix, the registrar at Nottingham, said: “This is terrific news for our students and alumni – it confirms that the University of Nottingham is delivering the global graduates that employers are looking for.

“It reflects continuing investment in the student experience at Nottingham, and the focus we have on providing the best possible support for students as they prepare for a challenging job market. It’s also a testament to the fantastic work of our academic staff and professional services, and the calibre of our students.”

Tammy Goldfield, from Manchester’s career service, added: “We are obviously very pleased our students are highly targeted by leading graduate recruiters and encouraged by the ongoing recovery of the graduate jobs market.

“Last academic year we saw an increase of seven per cent in vacancies advertised and our recruitment fairs were fully booked by employers.”