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Britain's vocational rich get richer, says research

You don't need to be an Oxbridge graduate or city whiz kid to earn serious money in 21st Century Britain - a vocational background is now worth more than ever.

According to this year's City & Guilds Vocational Rich List, which ranks wealth by those who built their fortunes on a vocational qualification or apprenticeship, the collective value of the nation's top 25 craft millionaires increased by £1.5 billion over the last year - from £2.7 billion in 2003 to £4.2 billion in 2004.

Business has certainly been booming for some of the rich list members who saw their wealth increase dramatically this year. Top of the list is Telecoms magnate John Caudwell, who entered the workplace as an engineering apprentice. John has an estimated financial value of £1280 million up from £840 million last year. Other high achievers such as the highly marketable Jamie Oliver who started out with a City & Guilds catering qualification, managed to double their fortune in the space of a year (£10 million to £20 million).

Many of television's most familiar faces including the likes of Jamie Oliver and Gordon Ramsey (£20 million) have the public's fascination with cookery programmes to thank for their financial success. One ingredient of their wealth was media exposure and their fame resulted in a lucrative business that includes TV work, books and of course top class restaurants.

Similarly, John Frieda (fifth on the City & Guilds Vocational Rich List) who began his working life as an apprentice in a Mayfair salon, now heads up a hair care dynasty worth £170 million that includes not only the international chain of salons but also the popular Frizz Ease products.

The Vocational Rich List will be launched to mark the first ever Vocational Education Day, which aims to raise awareness of the benefits of following a skills based career. City & Guilds will host a Vocational Masterclass in Leicester Square, which will be attended by government minister, Ivan Lewis, and a number of vocational celebrities who will give lessons to the public to teach them some of the tricks of their trade.

Several new names have joined the illustrious list this year including business partners Sir David McMurty and John Deer, partners in a manufacturing business, retail magnate Michael Clare, the man behind the chain of Dreams stores, and award-winning John Lancaster, responsible for Ultraframe, the conservatory manufacturer.

Overall, the vocational background of all 25 members on the list - whether with a qualification in plumbing, cookery or textile designs - has stood them in good stead with a minimum worth of £15 million.

Teetering on the brink of breaking into this year's Vocational Rich List and hopeful contenders for the 2005 list are Billy Connolly (£12m), Alan Titchmarsh (£10m) and Gary Rhodes (£6m).

Chris Humphries, Director General at City & Guilds said: "The City & Guilds Vocational Rich List belies the myth that obtaining a vocational or apprenticeship qualification provides a career cul-de-sac. It's the qualifications and training that all of the individuals on this and last year's list received, that equipped them with the skills they needed to become the millionaires they are today.

"We decided to launch Vocational Education Day to celebrate vocational qualifications and the skills they provide. All too often vocational courses are considered second rate and hopefully this day will highlight the opportunities available to those who take this route."

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