The prison service has made it on to a list of Britain’s top 100 employers for graduates thanks to its innovative fast-track scheme.

The Times Top 100 Graduate Employers 2019-20, published on Wednesday, also shows that the number of new graduates wanting to work in the public sector is at its highest level for almost a decade. There are 11 public sector employers in the rankings, including the NHS at number five, its highest position since the list began in 1999.

Unlocked, a scheme that parachutes graduates into the prison service, entered the table at number 49, the highest new entry.

The rankings are compiled from research with 19,700 graduates who left university this summer. They were asked: “Which employer do you think offers the best opportunities for graduates?”