New diplomas are set to give employers young recruits who are better equipped for the world of work, experts claim.

They say that the diplomas, which will be offered to every student in the UK by 2013, are the biggest single change in secondary education in the last 50 years.

Employers have devised these work-related diplomas with the needs of their own industry in mind.

Up to 17 subjects from creative and media to tourism and hospitality will be on offer. Some are already being trialled in Canterbury.

Local businesswoman Sarah Harman, who runs event management and team-building micro-business Iffin House, won an award on Thursday for her support for the new diploma scheme.

This involved working closely with schools, students and parents to make the diplomas "bring learning to life".

Speaking at a Business of Education conference run by Canterbury4Business, she predicted the diplomas would not replace A Levels but would show employers that students were more geared up for the workplace.

She said: "For many years, employers have been on the receiving end of those students who are perhaps academically able or have the skills but they don’t have the right attitude and soft skills we need as employers. I really believe the diploma will offer a lot more to many more students.”

Phil Wicker, a former head teacher who is spearheading the diploma scheme in Canterbury, said students would be “oven ready".

"Diplomas have been made by employers not educationalists,responding to the needs they know they have."

He added: “What’s special about diplomas is that they will be taught in a way for children who are interested in the world of work, who are motivated by thinking about their future work rather than the grades they might acquire to go to university.”