Big names like Wates, Balfour Beatty, Lovell, Kier and Bovis Lend Lease helped launch the diploma in 2008.

It was hailed as an alternative to GCSEs and A Levels and supporters claimed the diploma would attract thousands of students and revolutionise construction training.

But figures published this week by the Joint Council for Qualifications show only 58 people passed the first two-year course with none achieving an “A” Grade.

Supporters of the diploma believe future numbers will increase and construction’s figures were comparable with other diploma subjects like engineering and media which only had a handful of students.

Nick Gooderson, ConstructionSkills Head of Standards and Qualifications told the Enquirer: “The results issued today were just for the Advanced Diploma, the results for the Higher level will be published on the 24th.

“The Diploma is just one route available into a career in construction, and as with any new qualification, interest in the course will be relatively low at first and build year on year.

“The numbers of young people opting to take the Advanced Diploma in Construction and the Built Environment are comparable with other subjects.

“None of the Diploma courses had more than 160 learners receiving results today.”