Reach for the stars!

How you can make your dream career a reality

Ever dreamed of supporting Jenson Button's Formula One career?  Styling Kate Moss's hair for a Vogue shoot? Making Justin Timberlake look good for his latest video?

If so, check out the videos of the Stars behind the Stars - people who work with some of the biggest celebrities from the worlds of sport, fashion, film, TV and music - to mark VQ Day (Vocational Qualifications Day) on Wednesday, 23 June 2010.

Our exclusive behind-the-scenes footage reveals a fascinating glimpse into a day in the life of Nicky Clarke's senior stylist Warren Holmes, celebrity make-up artist Yvette Redmond and Formula 3 senior engineer Andi Scott...

But you can do it too! The right qualifications can open doors to all sorts of exciting industries.  City & Guilds is your gateway to discovering your talent and taking control of your future. Offering access to literally hundreds of different work-related qualifications, City & Guilds aims to get you started on the path to your dream career. 

Chris Jones, Director General and CEO, City & Guilds said:  "We hope that our Stars behind the Stars show how you can get into cool and exciting industries with the right qualifications.  Warren, Yvette and Andi all achieved their dream careers - and so can you!"

Stars behind the Stars has been launched to mark VQ Day on Wednesday, 23 June.  Sponsored by City & Guilds, VQ Day 2010 is a national celebration of vocational qualifications for students, teachers and employers. 

City & Guilds wants to inspire young people everywhere to unleash their talents and be the best they can possibly be.  City & Guilds qualifications relevant to Stars behind the Stars careers range from Apprenticeships and Advance Apprenticeships in Hairdressing and Barbering and Cosmetic Make-up Vocational level 2, to Awards in Vehicle Maintenance and Repair levels 1, 2 and 3.

For more information on vocational courses, colleges and careers, take a look at our Qualifications page.  

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For further information contact our Press Office:
T: 0207 294 8054
E: press@cityandguilds.com

Notes to editors:

• As the UK's leading vocational education organisation, City & Guilds is your gateway to discovering your talents and realising your career aspirations. With over 130 years heritage and expertise, we're using our imaginations to lead a new talent revolution to ensure you are equipped with the right skills and training to succeed and lead in tomorrow's fast paced economy.
  
• VQ Day was launched in 2008 to raise the profile of practical and vocational learning and celebrate vocational achievement.  Last year 3.6 million vocational qualifications were awarded and millions of people will achieve similar success this year.  Approximately 1.8 million people are currently working towards a City & Guilds qualification in the UK and Ireland.  
  
• City & Guilds' Stars behind the Stars are:
  
  Warren Holmes, senior stylist at Nicky Clarke - Warren's radically expressive, beautiful, wearable styles have been seen on the runway for fashion houses such as Chanel and Armani.  His body of work has caught the eye of Kate Moss, Naomi Campbell, Charlize Theron and Kate Bosworth, whom Warren can count as past and present clients. 
  
  How you can style the stars: City & Guilds offers a wide range of hairdressing qualifications including Apprenticeships, Diplomas and NVQs.
  
  Yvette Redmond, celebrity make-up artist - Yvette has an intuitive style that focuses on simple, elegant and flawless beauty as well as an ability to understand and adapt to the various needs of her diverse clients.  They include Black Eyed Peas' Fergie, Justin Timberlake, Juliette Binoche, Mischa Barton, Lily Allen and Alexa Chung.  She has appeared as a make-up expert on many TV programmes including BBC's The Secret of the Sexes and Celebrity Scissorhands, Channel 4's The Salon & Big Brother's Little Brother.
  
  How you can gloss the glitterati: City & Guilds offers a Cosmetic Make-Up qualification to help you reach for the stars
  
  Andi Scott, senior engineer at Fortec Motorsport, Formula 3 - Andi started his career in motorsport in the junior categories of motorsport including karting and Formula Ford.  Later joining leading UK team Fortec Motorsport, he worked as a mechanic with the likes of Nigel Mansell to develop the motorsport careers of his sons Greg and Leo.  Andi is now senior engineer for Oli Webb, a championship contender in the prestigious British F3 International Series. British F3 is a prominent feeder series for Formula One, with current Formula One World Champion Jenson Button having graduated from the class. 
  
  How you can motor your way into the racing circuit: City & Guilds has many automotive qualifications including Automotive Modern Apprenticeships, Certificates in Advanced Automotive Diagnostic Techniques, and NVQs and SVQs in Automotive Maintenance & Repair, Body & Paint, Vehicle Fitting.
  
  
• A vocational qualification is a recognised qualification at any level relating to a particular line of work or specific job role. These qualifications have an emphasis on the assessment of practical skills and knowledge and cover a wide range of subjects that range from agriculture to accountancy, business to beauty therapy and care work to construction.
  
• The City & Guilds Group operates from three major hubs: London (servicing Europe, the Caribbean and Americas), Johannesburg (servicing Africa), and Singapore (servicing Asia, Australia and New Zealand). 
  
• The City & Guilds Group comprises the Institute of Leadership & Management (management and leadership qualifications), NPTC (land-based qualifications) and the Cente for Skills Development.