Student Story: Horticulture
  Acau tells us about her ‘whirlwind romance’ with horticulture, which has taken her all the way to the well-tended gardens of Buckingham Palace…. Name:  Acau Bailey Institution:  Capel Manor College Course:  BTEC National Diploma in Horticulture Acau Bailey from Camden Town is originally from Vietnam, where farming was part of her heritage. She denied her passion for a career in gardening as a teenager and decided to study business instead. She ended up working for 12 years at a nursery school and spent a further seven...

VQs Explained
Vocational qualifications can be very useful stepping-stones to many careers. With the ever-increasing numbers of students progressing to higher education, there is a mounting demand for flexible, highly skilled workers who do not necessarily need to have a degree or A-levels. Employers are advocating courses that equip young people with the skills and attitudes that build business, and are recruiting those who have work experience or occupational training. Qualifications can be classified into three types – general, vocational and occupational. General qualifications are focused on a...