Millions of people gain a vocational qualification every year as a stepping stone to further study or a better job. And this year, City & Guilds is celebrating and participating in VQ Day - a national celebration of the people who have gained vocational qualifications.

Support for Skills

As a major provider of vocational qualifications, City & Guilds fully supports VQ Day. The vocational route can be a path to success as many of the City & Guilds Vocational RichListers have found. 

Chris Jones, Managing-Director of City & Guilds said:

'As the leading provider of vocational qualifications, City & Guilds fully supports the aims of VQ Day.  It's a great opportunity to highlight the breadth and exciting career options and showcase the fantastic skills of so many people who have achieved vocational and technical qualifications - a route followed by many of the UK's millionaires including Karen Millen, Jamie Oliver and John Frieda.   The UK's economic success depends on vocational excellence and we must encourage young people to fulfil their potential and aspirations by giving them the practical skills and qualifications they need.  Anyone can achieve career success with the right training, but it is critical that they are given this encouragement and opportunity.'

City & Guilds celebrates success stories

The beautician that brought 'Crystal Clear' skin to the Brits - Sharon Hilditch

Beauty and cosmetic entrepreneur Sharon Hilditch began her meteoritic rise in skin care at the age of 17 quickly achieving a City & Guilds qualification in hairdressing and beauty therapy. With the driving ambition bought her first salon at 18 and a few years later, launched a second salon with great commercial success.

Moving in the right direction for a place on the City & Guilds Vocational Rich List, Hilditch sold both her salons for a sizable profit, and went to work for a cosmetic surgery group in order to gain more experience within the skin care sector. During this time, she travelled and learned from some of the best skin care 'professors' in the world, including expert dermatologists and specialists in the industry. Seeing a gap in the market for alternatives to the surgical treatments already available, Hilditch bought a medical micro-dermabrasion system back from Italy and introduced the idea of a treatment to resurface the skin.

Find out more about Sharon's Crystal Clear empire here...

The brickies apprentice that built 'Rowland Homes' - Paul Rowley

Entrepreneur Paul Rowley, founder and Managing Director of Rowland Homes, is someone to watch out for! He's not yet reached the heights of the City & Guilds Vocational Rich List yet, but he's definitely on the right track. Rowley was recently awarded a prestigious City & Guilds Prince Philip Award by His Royal Highness, The Duke of Edinburgh in recognition of his outstanding contribution to the Building and Construction industry.

After leaving school at 16, Rowley began his early career as an apprentice bricklayer, working for his father's building company. But when the business folded, he suddenly found himself jobless and still unskilled. Undeterred by this setback, Rowley continued working as a labourer and went on to complete his apprenticeship with Poco Homes.

Read the rest of Rowley's inspiring road to success here...

The man that cooked a meal fit for the Queen - Marcus Waering

Entrepreneur and renowned restaurateur Marcus Waering, kick started his career with a City & Guilds qualification to go onto achieve outstanding success, Michelin stars and the impressive honour of cooking for the Queen.

Hailing from Lancashire, Waering trained at Southport College where he obtained his City & Guilds qualifications in Cooking and in Alcoholic Beverages. He kick-started his career in The Savoy at the early age of 18, and in the following years he fine-tuned his expertise in classic French cooking in various international hotels, including the Grand Hotel in Amsterdam, under Albert Roux, and Gravetye Manor in West Sussex.

Read on for the rest of Waering's success story...