VQ Learner of the Year Award 2009
Legal Executive Chris Linnitt of Torquay in Devon was today
named VQ Hero - Learner of the Year 2009 for the South West.
The VQ Hero Awards are part of VQ Day taking place on 24th June,
a national celebration of vocational achievement and the many paths
to success taken by learners of all ages. The Awards demonstrate
the talent, commitment and rigorous standards involved in gaining a
vocational qualification.
Chris has now been invited to represent the Institute of Legal
Executives (ILEX) and the region at the national VQ Day ceremony
where the overall national VQ Hero for England will be presented
with their award by celebrity chef James Martin, who is a
vocational learner himself. National awards will also be presented
to winners in Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland on VQ Day.
Chris was selected by the judges for his dedication to
vocational learning and huge success in his chosen field. Chris
never had the opportunity to go to University, but was keen to
pursue a career in law. He decided to take the Institute of Legal
Executives (ILEX) route to law qualifications so he could realise
that ambition.
Chris suffered appalling luck however, sustaining severe
injuries in two car crashes, which eventually led to him making the
decision to have his leg amputated.
Despite these setbacks, Chris was determined to complete his
studies and qualified as a Fellow of the Institute in 2007. He has
gone on to set up a Specialist Catastrophic Injury Department in
his law firm using his considerable personal and legal experience
to advise clients with similar injuries.
On receiving news of the award win, Chris said: “I was
absolutely gobsmacked to find out that I had won. I am completely
lost for words”.
“This is a terrific achievement for Chris,” said Mark Bishop,
President of the Institute of Legal Executives, “and a tribute to
his determination. His will to succeed despite the many setbacks is
an inspiration to others. We are pleased that ILEX could offer a
route to enable Chris to achieve his ambition to become a lawyer.
We were also able to offer flexibility in our courses to enable him
to complete his studies."
John Kerr, operations director at independent education
foundation Edge and a member of the judging panel, added: “It’s an
absolute pleasure to be able to honour someone like Chris. He is a
fantastic example of the progression and opportunities that
vocational qualifications can offer, living proof that there are
many paths to success and an inspiration to us all. Chris is one of
the millions who take a vocational qualification every year as a
stepping stone to a brighter future – VQ Day celebrates these
learners’ achievements and those who help them gain this
success.”
Colleges, learning providers and employers around the country
nominated their high-flying vocational students for the VQ Hero
Awards in two categories:
- VQ Hero - Learner of the Year
- VQ Hero – Young Learner of the Year
Over 400 learners were nominated in total, with nominations
judged by a panel comprising representatives from Edge, Department
for Innovation, Universities and Skills, the Association of
Colleges and the Association of Learning Providers.
For more information about VQ Day and the VQ Hero Awards, please
visit www.vqday.org.
16 June 2009 pr033.09