Sorry Pattree but that is no longer the case and has not been for many many years.I have heard this so often from employers.
I deeply regretted the merger of universities with the polytechnics but by the time it happened it was too late. Polys were by that time offering Masters Degrees and Universities were attempting vocational training. They’d eroded this specific differences.
When an employer takes on a graduate, they are adding educated new blood to their organisation. The (appropriately selected and utilised) graduate brings new ideas, current thinking and avenues for opportunities and organisational development.
Training the graduate is the employers job. Polytechnics used to function to support training but alas no more.
Unless a specific skillset is required, typically in engineering or Labs, grads are taken on irrespective of degree relevance. Merely to get "people like us", work them to death for as long as possible, and absolutely do not let them bring new ideas in, as it will upset the cosy management set up. They are "educated" only in the social norms and not upsetting the apple cart.
People with real experience and working qualifications/experience scare management to death as they tend to be more proactive, communicate more clearly, and actually know something. Grads very rarely are "educated", they have generally led a sheltered life with limited experience outside their social group/peers.
Hence the continuing pressure on the "Oxbridge" Russell set of Unis about how they select undergrads. They still do not look outside of top boarding grammar schools for potential despite their claims. Good schools (globally) have history with them, and are able to suggest pupils, who then get invited to visit/stay prior to A levels. Lesser working class schools have to be really persistent to even be heard, much less propose a student.
I agree that most Poly's teaching standards and performance were fairly uniformly poor, with rare course/Head exceptions. But at that time, most of the Uni's only selected from a very small sector of the population and were turning out too many entitled duds. They had refused to change or accept new ideas and blood, (see above,) thereby holding open the door to political change.
though I have a cousin who's a theatrical set designer, and we don't talk much about the one who's a domestic science teacher......she thinks we're boring
...but by heavens A. can make a good meal out of anything