Young people are being urged to ignore "snobbery" over workplace qualifications and consider a retailing career instead of racking up massive university debts.

According to the British Retail Consortium (BRC), retailers are investing an average of £1,275 per employee in training each year.

It claims this is more than manufacturing (£1,200) and the financial sector (£800). Retailers now account for more than 12% of the UK's total training spend.

With university students now facing whopping £9,000 a year fees at university and a potential total debt of at least £50,000 for a three-year degree, the BRC says young people should consider the retailing option. Many senior executives had started on the shop floor.

Stephen Robertson, BRC director-general, said: "Many young people considering university will be worried about building up huge debts which will take years to pay off.

"An alternative is to get a job which gives access to training and personal development funded by an employer while also picking up a salary. That option is getting more attractive all the time.

"There must be an end to the snobbery about workplace qualifications. Given the rising cost of getting a university education and falling employment prospects for young people, degree level education is becoming less relevant for some."

He added: "We owe it to our young people to challenge the dominance of degrees and let them get the appropriate level of credit for skills and experiences they pick up while in work."