EEF South, based in Hook in Hampshire, carried out a survey with colleagues covering Mid and East Anglia.

Their findings have revealed that graduates are also being offered help with accommodation costs and interest free loans.

"There are examples of golden hello cash payments for graduates entering manufacturing," said Rahim Rajan, of EEF South.

"With the high cost of accommodation and the increasing burden of student debt, such packages are particularly attractive to young people.

Incentives

"Given the need for engineering employers to recruit highly skilled individuals, such incentives may become more commonplace."

The survey, which covered London and the south east found the average starting salary was £17,00 for IT, general management and engineering - a figure expected to rise by 5.3 percent this year.

Graduates working in the aerospace, electronics and telecommunications sectors were consistently paid above the average.

Copies of the survey called "Graduate Salaries in Engineering and Manufacturing Companies", are available from EEF South on 01256 763 969.