VQ Learner of the Year
As part of the VQ Day celebrations, Mark Farrell from Manchester has been named the VQ Learner of the Year 2011 for England.

Mark was selected by a panel of education experts as a stand-out winner out of 200 entrants, representing the very best of the country's vocational talent. Mark impressed the judges having achieved a Level 3 qualification in Logistics and Level 2 Key Skills. He used the knowledge he gained while studying to successfully streamline processes at his employer I Want One of Those.com (now part of the Hut Group) where his efforts were deemed pivotal in saving the company £500,000. Mark's course tutor Kirk Wiseman from North Lancs Training Group, picked up the award on Mark's behalf from Lord Baker, chairman of Edge and John Hayes, the skills minister, at the national VQ Day ceremony on 22nd June 2011. AELP Chief Executive, Graham Hoyle, said: “It’s terrific to see the best provision in work based learning recognised in this way and I congratulate Mark and North Lancs Training Group on their achievement.”