Environmentally responsible employers are more likely to attract high quality candidates, a new survey has found.

A poll by recruitment site jobs.ac.uk, which quizzed just over 200 jobseekers, found that 67 per cent believed a company's environmental policy would influence their choice of employer, while 45 per cent would be 'strongly' influenced by an employer's green credentials.

Andrew Gordon, director of jobs.ac.uk, said green issues are high in the public conscience. "Employers are increasingly expected not only to mitigate against their environmental impact through appropriate green programmes or policies, but to make a tangible, positive contribution to improving the environment.

"High-calibre job hunters want to work for an employer who is environmentally responsible, forward thinking and who can offer further opportunities in the future."

According to the job site, being able to access an organisation’s corporate social responsibility programme, charity support or green policy on its website can reveal the company culture and help candidates determine what it might be like to work there.

Gordon added: "Employers are under increasing pressure to compete with other companies to attract the right staff and a company's green credentials are now an important influencing factor for job hunters."