Posted on 19 August 2011
Climbing up the career ladder: arboriculture is a popular VQ and hair and beauty students at Guildford College present a show as part of the VQ Day celebrations.
Record graduate unemployment rates should encourage more young people to choose vocational qualifications as a route to a job, according to Guildford College Principal Clive Cooke.
Speaking on VQ (Vocational Qualification) Day on Wednesday June 22, Mr Cooke said that a recent report from the Centre for Economics and Business Research and the Association of Accounting Technicians revealed that graduate unemployment rates were twice the national average. It also found that four in 10 university graduates were stuck in low-skilled jobs they did not need a degree for.
“In our continuing dialogue with local employers, it is clear that high quality vocational qualifications, tailored to industry’s precise needs, are increasingly in demand for careers from arboriculture to accounting, business to beauty therapy,” said Mr Cooke. “A good vocational course not only equips young people for employment in a trade but can lead to senior management positions or them running their own business, which helps to boost the local economy.”
One student for whom a VQ has paid off is Jon Treasure, 22, of Godalming, who runs his own arboriculture business. “I didn’t want to sit behind a desk every day and I felt that if I was going to do a degree it needed to be something I really wanted to do as it represented a large investment both financially and in time,” he said.
Instead he enrolled for a National Diploma in Arboriculture, a two year full-time course that provides all the practical experience and theoretical knowledge needed for the arboriculture industry. He worked hard to gain full marks and a distinction, as well as receiving the top practical student award in his second year.
Now while many of his contemporaries are facing a job search in challenging circumstances and paying back their student loans, he is established in business and debt-free. His costs were lower as the course was well subsidised and he could live at home while studying.
“It hasn’t all been easy – work was far from falling at my feet - but since college I have built up further skills and qualifications and I’m pleased to say that business is growing steadily. The ND can take you a long way in the industry - from contracting to local authority and consultancy work. I get a lot of positive feedback about the quality of my work and it’s a great feeling at the end of a hard day to have a happy client and the satisfaction of a job well done.”
In celebration of VQ Day, Guildford College Group students will take part in a series of events and award ceremonies. Media and Film students from Farnham Sixth Form College are hosting their own Oscars-style event at the Farnham Maltings, with the winners chosen by Ray Nunney, a judge from the British Academy of Film and Television Awards (BAFTAs).
Hair and Beauty students from Guildford College will present their annual show, with a bridal theme for year one students and a look at hair through the ages for those in their second year, whilst photography students will display their best work through a virtual exhibition. Construction HNC students will showcase their talents with an exhibition of individual and group work from the academic year. Students and staff will vote for the best project and awards will be presented.
Public Services students at Merrist Wood will hold their annual passing out parade and awards celebration.