'I could earn more as a plumber than as a lawyer'

At first glance Nigel Broome would seem classic undergraduate material.

He left his Surrey public school with three A-levels and a guaranteed place at University College London.

But he decided against spending three years at one of London's more prestigious universities in favour of a plumbing course at Lambeth College.

It may seem an unusual career route, but Charterhouseeducated Mr Broome, 21, has no regrets about taking his City & Guilds course.

Now based in Brixton, he is using the skills he learned at college to set himself up as a property developer.

"It's been tough but I have no regrets about doing the course. It has allowed me to earn quite decent money and work for myself," he said.

Despite getting two A grades and one B at A-level, Mr Broome said a degree did not appeal.

"You have to be a certain kind of person to go to university and

I really never enjoyed education," he said. More middle-class students are opting for vocational courses for financial reasons, he added.

"Even just working for a company you can earn up to £70,000. It beats working in a bar or being a doctor or a lawyer."