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A Day to Celebrate vocational training and find vocational training courses
What do chef Jamie Oliver, singer Alesha Dixon, hairdresser Charles Worthington and actor Ewan McGregor have in common? They’ve all taken a vocational course…
Vocational, practical qualifications can teach you specialist skills and can provide fantastic job prospects for the future. Students’ achievements are being celebrated in a special day: Vocational Qualifications (VQ) Day.
The event was hosted by Hackney Community College . A Centre of Vocational Excellence for both business and construction, and home to the recently launched Open Kitchen Bar & Restaurant (training restaurant for the London City Hospitality Centre), Hackney is a great example of vocational training in action.
Celebrity chef, author and restauranteur James Martin, the spokesperson for this year’s event, explains why taking gaining vocational training and practical qualification could be the key to success:
‘At long last, vocational learners are getting the opportunity to stand up and say that they’re proud of their achievements. For far too long, vocational qualifications have been seen as the poor relation to their academic counterparts, and I’m glad to be part of the move to change this. On June 24th this year we celebrated VQ Day – a celebration recognising the achievements of vocational learners and the colleges and learning providers that help people achieve their success.
There are many paths to success and this is a chance for learners all over the UK to come together and celebrate their individual achievements. It showcases not only the variety of qualifications available, but the doorways a vocational qualification can open and the many people who have gone on to excel in their chosen field. As a vocational learner myself, I relish the opportunity to lend my support and get involved.
In these increasingly testing economic times, it is more important than ever to make sure that the UK has the right skills to see us through. A vocational training qualification can set you up for life.
Having had a passion for food all my life, it was clear to me from a young age that the academic path was not going to be the right one for me. I dreamed of becoming a head chef and soon realised that the only way to achieve my goal was by learning the practical skills necessary to become a top chef – something that you just can’t learn from books. At 16, I enrolled at Scarborough Technical College on a catering course and I never looked back.
My other great love is motoring, another industry which relies heavily on people with vocational qualifications. Car mechanics can’t be taught in the classroom – they need real hands-on skills, which can only be learnt through real hands-on experience.
I would urge everyone who is considering taking vocational training to contact their local college or training provider to find out more about the many options available. I truly believe that my vocational training laid the foundations for my future career and subsequent success, and I’m really pleased that vocational qualifications are finally getting the recognition that they deserve.’
Aaron Collins of Croydon College was named VQ Hero - Learner of the Year 2009 for England at an event in London and was presented with his award by celebrity chef James Martin.
Aaron was selected by the judges for his dedication to vocational learning and huge success in his chosen field. Aaron really turned his life around within the college environment, progressing to the BTEC First Diploma in Art & Design (for which he gained a distinction) and then to the National Diploma in Art & Design. Aaron is a student representative and is studying towards an ASDAN qualification in mentoring. He also volunteers one hour per week to support young offenders. Aaron has been accepted onto all of his first choice university courses and has accepted a place at Kingston University to study Architecture. Aaron said: ‘My vocational training qualification has helped me to achieve so much already, and I’m really proud to be able to highlight the benefits of vocational learning and join in the VQ Day celebrations with the millions of others who gain vocational qualifications every year.’
Related links:
Browse vocational training courses
Architectural training courses
Culinary training courses
Hairdresser training
Vocational, practical qualifications can teach you specialist skills and can provide fantastic job prospects for the future. Students’ achievements are being celebrated in a special day: Vocational Qualifications (VQ) Day.
The event was hosted by Hackney Community College . A Centre of Vocational Excellence for both business and construction, and home to the recently launched Open Kitchen Bar & Restaurant (training restaurant for the London City Hospitality Centre), Hackney is a great example of vocational training in action.
Celebrity chef, author and restauranteur James Martin, the spokesperson for this year’s event, explains why taking gaining vocational training and practical qualification could be the key to success:
‘At long last, vocational learners are getting the opportunity to stand up and say that they’re proud of their achievements. For far too long, vocational qualifications have been seen as the poor relation to their academic counterparts, and I’m glad to be part of the move to change this. On June 24th this year we celebrated VQ Day – a celebration recognising the achievements of vocational learners and the colleges and learning providers that help people achieve their success.
There are many paths to success and this is a chance for learners all over the UK to come together and celebrate their individual achievements. It showcases not only the variety of qualifications available, but the doorways a vocational qualification can open and the many people who have gone on to excel in their chosen field. As a vocational learner myself, I relish the opportunity to lend my support and get involved.
In these increasingly testing economic times, it is more important than ever to make sure that the UK has the right skills to see us through. A vocational training qualification can set you up for life.
Having had a passion for food all my life, it was clear to me from a young age that the academic path was not going to be the right one for me. I dreamed of becoming a head chef and soon realised that the only way to achieve my goal was by learning the practical skills necessary to become a top chef – something that you just can’t learn from books. At 16, I enrolled at Scarborough Technical College on a catering course and I never looked back.
My other great love is motoring, another industry which relies heavily on people with vocational qualifications. Car mechanics can’t be taught in the classroom – they need real hands-on skills, which can only be learnt through real hands-on experience.
I would urge everyone who is considering taking vocational training to contact their local college or training provider to find out more about the many options available. I truly believe that my vocational training laid the foundations for my future career and subsequent success, and I’m really pleased that vocational qualifications are finally getting the recognition that they deserve.’
Aaron Collins of Croydon College was named VQ Hero - Learner of the Year 2009 for England at an event in London and was presented with his award by celebrity chef James Martin.
Aaron was selected by the judges for his dedication to vocational learning and huge success in his chosen field. Aaron really turned his life around within the college environment, progressing to the BTEC First Diploma in Art & Design (for which he gained a distinction) and then to the National Diploma in Art & Design. Aaron is a student representative and is studying towards an ASDAN qualification in mentoring. He also volunteers one hour per week to support young offenders. Aaron has been accepted onto all of his first choice university courses and has accepted a place at Kingston University to study Architecture. Aaron said: ‘My vocational training qualification has helped me to achieve so much already, and I’m really proud to be able to highlight the benefits of vocational learning and join in the VQ Day celebrations with the millions of others who gain vocational qualifications every year.’
Related links:
Browse vocational training courses
Architectural training courses
Culinary training courses
Hairdresser training