The second annual day to celebrate vocational achievement will be launched today (4th March) at a Parliamentary reception at the Houses of Parliament. VQ Day 2009 will be held on 24th June to recognise the success of millions of vocational learners around the UK in the past year.

The day will be marked by events held at colleges and learning providers across the country - with national events in England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.

Plans for the Day are being led by Edge, and are supported by the wider education community, including Edexcel, the UK’s largest awarding body, which offers a wide range of vocational qualifications including BTECs and NVQs.

Last year, research by the independent education foundation, Edge, to coincide with the inaugural VQ Day, found that over 3,250,000 vocational qualifications were awarded in the preceding twelve months. A new report will be released in June to highlight this year's results and the changing vocational landscape.

Colleges, learning providers and employers around the country are urged to get involved and hold their own VQ Day celebrations. An action pack is available for colleges and learning providers to download from www.vqday.org.uk.

Jerry Jarvis, Managing Director, Edexcel said:

“We’re really pleased to be supporting VQ Day for the second year. Vocational learning is, as most employers would agree, as important as academic learning. We should continue to celebrate the achievements of learners taking a vocational qualification, which includes 1.3 million people annually from Edexcel alone.”

Andy Powell, Chief Executive, Edge, said:

"Millions of people will gain a vocational qualification this year that will be the stepping stone to a brighter future, be that further vocational study or university, a better job or enhanced skills. VQ Day celebrates this achievement and the many paths to success taken by learners of all ages. I hope the whole country, and all political parties, will once again get behind VQ Day and join the celebrations."

A roll call of vocational success has been established on the VQ Day website for past and present vocational learners to log on and add their name to the list. Colleges can also nominate learners for the VQ Hero Awards, by downloading a VQ Hero nomination form.  One VQ 'Learner' and one 'Young Learner' in each region will be awarded the status of VQ Hero, with the national winners announced on 24th June.

Last year's VQ Hero Young Learner of the Year was Sophie Kelly, who achieved a BTEC National Diploma in Care.  She said:

"The VQ Hero awards help highlight the importance of vocational learning and winning the national award was a great honour. I am now taking a Social Work degree at Goldsmiths University showing how a VQ can be a real springboard to further success."

For media enquiries, please contact:

Abi Rogansky, Media Affairs Manager, on 020 7190 5191 or abi.rogansky@edexcel.com
Jenny Stopher, Senior Press Officer, on 020 7190 5194 or jenny.stopher@edexcel.com