EDUCATION charity, the Edge Foundation is joining forces with The Skills Show to raise the status of technical, practical and vocational learning.

To celebrate VQ (Vocational Qualifications) Day on June 10, schools, colleges and learning providers across the North-East are being urged to hold a ‘Have-a-go’ event to introduce young people to careers they might not have previously considered.

Event organisers will have the opportunity to win back the costs of holding an event up to the value of £500. The best two ‘Have a go’ events will also win up to £4,000 to come along to The Skills Show in November and repeat the activity there, for thousands of young visitors.

VQ Day is a national celebration of vocational qualifications, recognising the achievements of students and the commitment and support of teachers and employers. These hands-on, bite-size skills tasters will not only showcase the talents of current learners but also raise awareness of the many paths to success available through technical, practical and vocational routes.

The main event takes place at Birmingham’s NEC from November 19-21 and last year more than 75,000 young people attended

The funding announcement, from the Edge Foundation, follows the call for nominations for the national VQ Awards.

Learning providers are being called upon to put forward outstanding vocational students for the VQ Learner of the Year Award, sponsored by OCR.

Businesses of all sizes are also being encouraged to nominate themselves for the VQ Employer of the Year Award, sponsored by City and Guilds. The award recognises employers that have positively embraced vocational learning within their workforce.

The VQ Teacher of the Year Award, sponsored by the Education and Training Foundation, will recognise outstanding teachers.

The deadline for submissions is 1st May, 2015. To find out how to enter, visit: vqday.org.uk/vq-awards