Since 2003, City & Guilds has worked with Philip Beresford, author of the internationally renowned Sunday Times Rich List, to compile our own alternative rich list.

But why the Vocational Rich List? Director General of City & Guilds Chris Humphries explains: ‘We wanted to highlight the successes of entrepreneurs and other people who have made their mark on industry, to highlight that vocational careers can be every bit as rewarding as the traditional academic route.’

To be eligible for a place on the Vocational Rich List, each millionaire must have undertaken an apprenticeship or obtained a City & Guilds qualification at some point in their careers.   The millionaires’ wealth is identified by stakes in companies, or via sales of companies, while book sales and similar undertakings are also taken into account.

All valuations that contributed to this year’s Vocational Rich List were completed in early 2007 using Companies House and Stock exchange prices in April 2007.

About the author

Philip Beresford has been compiling the Sunday Times Rich List for 19 years and also works on regional and industry rich lists. As a former industrial editor at The Sunday Times and later editor of Management Today he has seen just how important a better skills base is for British business.