A STUDENT from Huntingdonshire Regional College has been awarded Learner of the Year by Vince Cable in a special ceremony in London.

Corrine Patmore, 21, achieved a triple distinction in her IT National Diploma at HRC and was given the East of England VQ award by the Secretary for Business, Innovation and Skills, at Bafta, in the centre of the capital.

She said: ““I wasn’t expecting to win this award, it’s amazing. I think vocational qualifications are really important as they can further your skills and hone them to give you a specialism.

“My tutor at Huntingdonshire Regional College, Malcolm, told me I could do it and really believed in me which also helped me get to the position I am in now. I’m in my second year at Northampton University to become a primary school teacher – I don’t think I would have made it here without my vocational qualification.”

The award ceremony was part of VQ Day, organised by the Edge Foundation, dedicated to the work of vocational learning.

Dr Cable said: “Corrine’s achievements should be an inspiration to all people who want to find rewarding careers and get on in life.”