VQ Awards

VQ DAY 2011 AWARD WINNERS

Thank you to all of those who nominated individuals for the 2011 VQ Learner of the Year Awards. We had an amazing selection of nominees this year, demonstrating the outstanding skill, achievement and commitment of vocational learners in all disciplines. The standard of the nominees being sent through seems to improve every year - we would like to thank everyone who took the time to complete a nomination form and congratulate our 2011 winners once again.

england & North West: Mark Farrell, Level 3 Logistics, Level 2 Key Skills

East of England: Craig Bucklow, BTEC National Diploma in IT
East Midlands: Leanne Cooke, Engineering Apprenticeship, Level 3
London: Adam Smith, LCGI (Licentiateship of the City & Guilds Insititue)
North East: Liam Hackett, BTEC National Diploma Music Techonolgy
South East: Dominic King, BTEC Level 3 Diploma in Enterprise & Entrepreneurship
South West: Nick Harbron, Glass Processing NVQ Level 3
West Midlands: Chris Hinton, NVQ Level 2 and 3, BTEC National Electrical/Electronic
Yorkshire & the Humber: Veronkia Pistekova, Advanced App Diploma Supervision & Leadership

VQ DAY 2011 AWARD Winners - WALES

Luke Thomas, NVQ1, NVQ2 Catering
Melissa Jenkins, BTEC National Diploma Photography, BA (Hons) Photography

VQ DAY 2011 AWARD WINNER - NORTHERN IRELAND

Clare Jameson, Apprenticeship in Railway Engineering

Check out the 2011 winners below or watch our winners' film on YouTube

2011 Winners' stories

Mark Farrell, England & North East VQ Award winner
Level 3 qualification in Logistics and Level 2 Key Skills

Mark used the knowledge he gained while studying to successfully streamline training programmes at North Lanc Training Group; his efforts were deemed pivotal in saving the company £500,000. Mark was the winner of the City & Guilds Medal for Excellence and also went on to win the Lion Award. A charismatic communicator, Mark is a well liked manager for his unquestionable commitment and logistics knowledge.
Dominic King, VQ Award winner for the South East
BTEC Diploma in Enterprise & Entrepreneurship at South Essex College

Dominic shone during the course, developing skills in networking and business development. Dominic is also an inspiration to fellow course mates, who voted him their Course Representative. He is an ambassador for the NEA brand and a strong supporter of the vocational courses that VQ Day celebrates.
Chris Hinton, VQ Award winner for the West Midlands
NVQ 2 and 3, BTEC National in Electrical and Electronic Engineering and a Foundation Degree in Electrical Control Engineering

Chris is currently on the BMW apprenticeship programme. An accomplished public speaker, Chris was invited to The Houses of Parliament to represent the BMW Apprenticeship Scheme. In 2010 he was awarded 'Adult Learner of the Year' and 'Star Apprentice' at Birmingham Metropolitan College. Chris is a confident and articulate student who is a worthy ambassador of vocational qualifications and likely to become a Senior Technician at BMW after his studies.
Nick Harbron, VQ Award winner for the South West
NVQ Level 3 in Glass Processing at Wiltshire College

Nick excelled on the course and managed to complete an additional 8 units in the same timeframe. Since completing his course, Nick has worked on several prestigious projects such as Windsor Castle and Sherborne Abbey. He since took the brave step of setting up his own business and having secured lucrative restoration contracts, Nick's business and reputation looks set to flourish.
Adam Smith, VQ Award winner for London
NVQ Level 1 & 2 Catering

Adam achieved a LGCI (C&G Senior Award) from WorldSkills London. He also won the Gold Medal for cooking at WordSkills Calgary in 2009, which helped earn him his promotion to Premier Sous Chef at The Ritz. Adam now helps to promote WorldSkills London 2011, helping inspire people and leading as an example of how vocational education and skills can lead to a valuable and worthwhile career.
Craig Bucklow, VQ Award winner for the East England
BTEC National Diploma in IT, Huntingdonshire Regional College

Craig achieved a triple distinction in his two-year course. He was nominated for the World Skills UK Advanced Wed Design competition in 2010 where he beat 4,000 other applicants winning a Gold Medal. Now a representative of the student body and a college governor, Craig is continuing his studies at Staffordshire University with a predicted first class honours degree in Web Design.
Leanne Cooke, VQ Award winner for the East Midlands
Apprentice at Nottingham Tram Consortium - Level 2 Rail Skills and Level 4 Engineering

Leanne is currently the only apprentice currently studying at all 3 available levels at the same time. Combining studies in level 3 Engineering with working at level 4 (HNC) for her technical skills will make Leanne the most qualified technician in the team once she has completed both courses. After the completion of her Advanced Apprenticeship, Leanne hopes to enrol onto the HND in Electronics and Electrical Engineering and is considering studying the full degree.
Veronika Pistekova, VQ Award winner for the York and the Humber
Level 3 Advanced App Diploma in Supervision and Leadership at Babcock International

With English being Veronika's second language, through additional support and her own self development, she successfully passed her level 2 COMMs test. Veronika passed her Technical Certificate in Supervision and Leadership with a Distinction. Currently Veronika is managing her own team and is on her MDP with Travelodge progressing into Management.
Liam Hackett, VQ Award winner for the North East
BTEC National Diploma in Music Technology

Liam achieved a triple distinction in his qualifcation. With exceptional writing and recording skills, Liam's music was selected by Galaxy Radio station as their World Cup song. He has since been commissioned to create music for local recording studios and regularly is seen lending his experience to fellow course mates. Winner of the Gateshead 'Student of the Year' award, Liam is a model student, hugely respected by colleagues and peers alike.