Labour has pledged to introduce technical degrees, potentially boosting graduates and businesses, if it wins the general election next year.

In a speech delivered today, the Labour leader Ed Miliband will promise to work with universities and businesses to deliver the degrees.

The courses would be available to young people to increase their chances of gaining better skills and landing better paid jobs.

The new system would also encourage school leavers to take part who would not normally consider university as a route into employment.

The qualifications will be delivered in partnership with businesses, who will help design the courses and sponsor young people who have excelled in apprenticeships.

Other measures outlined by the Labour leader today will include:

- A new technical baccalaureate for 16-to-19 year-olds with level 3 qualifications accredited by employers. It would require participants to study English and Maths to 18.

- Improving further education by requiring lecturers to attain new, specific qualifications.

- Improving the quality of apprenticeships to make them level 3 qualifications and making their provision a condition of winning government contracts.

Mr Miliband will say: “A Labour government, working with business and universities, will revolutionise learning and training to underpin the high wage, high skill, high quality economy we will build together for the future.

“The government I plan to lead in 10 months’ time will put this right with reform of vocational education is central to this mission.”