LONDON, UNITED KINGDOM -- 11/04/09 --
Editors Note: There is a photo and a video associated with this Press Release.
The third annual day to celebrate vocational achievement will take place on Wednesday 23rd June 2010.
The announcement follows a successful two years where over 200 colleges, employers and learning providers have joined in the celebrations, as well as famous faces Alesha Dixon and James Martin.
Since VQ Day launched in 2008, over 140 politicians from across the UK have supported the Day including the English minister for further education Kevin Brennan MP, Scottish minister for Schools and Skills Keith Brown MSP, Welsh Deputy Minister for Skills John Griffiths AM and Sir Reg Empey MLA, Minister for Employment and Learning in Northern Ireland.
The Day is fast becoming a permanent fixture in the education calendar and awareness in 2009 was double that of 2008, according to independent YouGov data.
Plans for 2010 (and beyond) are currently being developed by the partners behind the Day. Led by the independent education foundation Edge and supported by the wider education community including representation from all four UK nations, examination boards, employers' organisations, the Association of Colleges and the Association of Learning Providers.
Edge is calling on schools, colleges, learning providers and employers to sign up for 2010 at www.vqday.org. From early 2010 the site will contain information and downloadable toolkits to help colleges, learning providers, employers and schools around the country get involved and hold their own VQ Day celebrations.
Andy Powell, chief executive of Edge, commented:
"Millions of people gain vocational qualifications every year that are the stepping stone to a brighter future, be that further vocational study or university, a better job or enhanced skills.
"Young people are being given greater access than ever to vocational learning opportunities, businesses are using vocational qualifications to respond to changing business needs and vocational qualifications are helping people of all ages realize their dreams and fulfill their talents.
"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."
Notes to Editors
About VQ Day - 23 June 2010
- Millions of people will gain a vocational qualification this year that will be the stepping stone to a brighter future. VQ Day celebrates this achievement and the many paths to success taken by learners of all ages.
- Plans for VQ Day are being led by Edge, the education foundation, in conjunction with the vocational qualifications community including: the Association of Colleges (AoC), the Association of Learning Providers (ALP), Association of Scotland's Colleges, Alliance Sector Skills Scotland, City & Guilds, Department for Employment and Learning (DELNI), Department for Business, Innovation & Skills (DBIS), Edexcel, EDI, the Federation of Awarding Bodies (FAB), the FE Reputation Strategy Group (FERSG), fforwm, Hackney Community College, the Institute of Leadership & Management (ILM), Learning and Skills Council (LSC), National Training Federation for Wales, Ofqual, Ofqual Northern Ireland, OCR, Scottish Government, Scottish Qualifications Authority, Scottish Training Federation (STF), Skills Development Scotland, Qualifications & Curriculum Development Agency (QCDA) and the Welsh Assembly Government among others.
- To find out more visit www.vqday.org.
About Edge
- Edge is an independent education foundation. It is dedicated to raising the status of practical and vocational learning, so that all young people have the opportunity to achieve their potential, and the UK's future workforce is equipped with the skills to be successful in the modern economy. Edge believes that 'learning by doing' is as important as academic learning, and that there are many paths to success. For more information visit www.edge.co.uk.
To view the photo associated with this press release, please visit the following link: http://media3.marketwire.com/docs/edge1104photo800px.jpg
To view the video associated with this press release, please visit the following link: www.youtube.com/watch?v=y6Gvr_hepHk
Contacts:
For more information on VQ Day please contact:
Zoe Penn or Andy Wray
020 7419 6950
vqday@bbpr.com
