EMPLOYERS and colleges in the North-East are being urged to nominate outstanding students who have gained a vocational qualification in the last 12 months for the national VQ Learner of the Year award.

For the first time, businesses of all sizes in the North-East are also being encouraged to nominate themselves for the new VQ Employer of the Year award. The award has been introduced to recognise local employers that have positively embraced vocational learning within their workforce.

Nominations for VQ Learner of the Year will be judged by a panel in England before the winner is crowned the North East's VQ Learner of 2013 and presented with their award by a Government minister at the House of Commons in London.

An overall national winner will also be announced for both Learner and Employer of the Year awards at the evening reception and all winners in England will be given a tour of the prestigious Parliamentary buildings.

Jan Hodges, CEO of the Edge Foundation: "We recognise there are many paths to success and it is important that vocational qualifications can achieve equal weighting with that of other qualifications, which is why a celebration such as VQ Day is so important. We are encouraging all employers and educational organisations in the North-East to help their workforce or students get the edge by learning through doing and take part in a day that celebrates individual achievements, and the wider benefits they bring to society and business.

"This year we have revitalised the awards to celebrate not only the successes of VQ learners in the North-East, but also to recognise local businesses that have successfully embraced and championed technical, practical and work-related skills within their workforce."

Last years VQ Learner of the Year for the North-East was Ian Henderson from Newcastle. He said: "Vocational qualifications are so important - I didn't feel fully engaged in a classroom environment, and with my VQ I've been able to learn on the job, demonstrating my existing skills and learning new skills every day."

The deadline for submissions for both the VQ Learner and Employer of the Year Awards is 3rd May, 2013. To find out more information and how to enter, visit vqday.org.uk/vq-awards