ONS figures show where Bridgwater's skilled students end up

But the town is gaining non-graduates with other advanced post-16 qualifications such as A-levels, apprenticeships and foundation degrees.

The loss of graduates has been described as an ‘exodus’ by Bridgwater MP Ian Liddell-Grainger – but there are hopes key projects like Hinkley Point C and Tata's recently announced gigafactory will transform the local economy and open up opportunities for students to find well-paid jobs locally.

This will help slow the so-called ‘brain drain’ of graduates, who have previously left Bridgwater (and its traditionally manufacturing and engineering-dominated economy) to find work in the white collar sector.

The £4 billion electric battery gigafactory will bring around 4,000 high-skilled jobs to the area, while Hinkley will create an estimated 25,000 employment opportunities during construction, including more than 1,000 apprenticeships.

Brian Smedley, leader of Bridgwater Town Council, has welcomed these developments but believes Somerset would benefit from an “actual university” to attract skilled workers and help train (and retain) local students.

What do the ONS figures show?

The figures from the ONS are based on 2,095 state-school pupils who sat their GCSEs in Bridgwater between 2008 and 2011.

They show how many of those went on to gain high-level qualifications – and how many have since left Bridgwater to find work.

A total of 350 (17 per cent) gained degree-level qualifications, becoming ‘graduates’. This is below the national average of 30 per cent.

Fewer than half of the graduates Bridgwater produced from that cohort (49 per cent) still live in the town, with London being their most popular destination.

Across England, an average of 55 per cent of graduates stay in their towns.

In contrast, Bridgwater is above the national average for the number of pupils who went on to obtain other advanced qualifications, becoming ‘qualified non-graduates’.

A total of 715 (34 per cent) became non-qualified graduates, compared to a national average of 32 per cent.

Most of the town’s qualified non-graduates (74 per cent) still live in the town – 10 per cent above average – and Bridgwater made a six per cent net gain of qualified non-graduates.

Mr Liddell-Grainger says graduates moving on to pastures new is common across Somerset, but new high-tech employers should stem the ‘brain drain’.

Bridgwater MP Ian Liddell-Grainger. (Image: UK Parliament)

“In a largely rural county dominated by agriculture and tourism the number of positions available for graduates has always been extremely limited with the result that once they have completed their education, they have had no option but to move away,” he said.

“I know it has been slightly dispiriting for colleges to devote quite so much effort to getting young people through degree courses only to see them disappear.

“But the changes happening in Bridgwater with high-tech employers such as EDF now in place and others set to follow means that brain drain should soon start to slow.

“That is terrific news.

“It means students with locally obtained qualifications will be able to put them to use to the benefit of the local economy while they will have the advantage of securing well-paid employment commensurate with those qualifications without the need to move away.”

Brian Smedley, the leader of Bridgwater Town Council and a Somerset councillor. (Image: Contributed)

Councillor Brian Smedley, the Labour leader of Bridgwater Town Council, said: “We have an excellent local college offering numerous courses from foundation all the way to level 3 including apprenticeships and fantastic links with local industries such as Hinkley; add to this the skills needed for the new gigafactory and so the opportunities to be educated in key areas are high.

“Our aim should be to not only attract incoming skilled workers but to train local workers in these jobs and persuade our young people to either stay or to come back after university.

“This would be greatly assisted by an actual university here as there are no unis in Somerset at all and, until recently, few opportunities for graduates.

“So this is another reason to campaign for a university in Somerset, in particular in Bridgwater, with the strong college base.

“We are getting there but the degrees are currently ratified by other institutions.

“We certainly need strong partnerships with major employers so that we provide our students with not just a degree, but a comprehensive toolbox of skills, knowledge, and experiences that translate seamlessly into their future careers.

“That’s why we welcome the fact that there are a lot of qualified apprenticeship opportunities in the area well supported by Bridgwater and Taunton College.”