Contractors are well placed to take a mature gap year - a trend that one expert maintains is becoming increasingly popular.

Adam Pembrey, marketing co-ordinator at Gapforce, said that an increasing number of people are opting to take mature gap years.

For some, this could mean taking a year out in between education and work, but those in their late twenties are now considering gap years due to the difficult conditions of the current job market.

"The advantage too is that you might learn skills, such as becoming a ski instructor, an expedition leader, getting diving qualifications," he said.

This comes after one expert said that young people are more likely to consider more unconventional career paths such as contracting that do not strictly require a traditional degree.

Sarah Clover, sales and marketing director at notgoingtouni.co.uk, said that the upcoming tuition fee rise and abolition of Educational Maintenance Allowance (EMA) would mean that potential students are now considering a far broader range of options.