Celebrating VQ Day

Today marks National Vocational Qualification Day.  A VQ means 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.  Examples include BTECs, City & Guilds, NVQ/SVQ, OCR Nationals, Apprenticeships, HNC/HNDs, degrees with a largely vocational content and professional qualifications awarded through a recognised professional body. They cover subjects that range from agriculture to accountancy, business to beauty therapy, care work to construction and many more. Rather than just being based on theory, VQs are focused on helping you learn skills that will give you a head start in your career. They can give you a foot in the door to the industry you want to work in, or prepare you for further vocational study or university.  For examples of how VQ qualifications have helped young people enter the world of work, click here.  For a video about VQs from the Skills Minister, click here.