Our richest vocational millionaires come from all across the UK but it does appear that there are some places which are more profitable than others.

Scotland

Almost a quarter of the names featured on the City & Guilds Vocational Rich List have a Scottish heritage – the highest proportion since we published the first list five years ago.

In 2003, only five Scots had a self-made fortune of more than £10m; that has jumped to14 people this year, sharing a collective fortune of £1.26 billion.  Glaswegians and Aberdonians feature prominently, contributing nine of the multi-millionaires.

Jim McColl

• Position on list: 6th
• Position last year: 5th
• Glasgow
• Estimated wealth: £435m
• Industry: engineering

North East

Yorkshire is well represented in the City & Guilds rankings this year, with four millionaires in the top tier of the Vocational Rich List.  Altogether, there are nine local millionaires with the required £10 million to qualify for the rankings.  From Bradford-born Jack Tordoff to Ilkley’s celebrity gardener Alan Titchmarsh, they are collectively worth a cool £714 million.

Jack Tordoff

• Position on list: 10th
• Position last year: 11th
• Bradford
• Estimated wealth: £210m
• Industry: motor vehicles
  

North West

2007’s rankings paint a profitable picture for the North West’s entrepreneurs and captains of industry.  Cumbria’s Andrew Tinkler and Lancastrian Trevor Hemmings are included in the top rankings, with other millionaires from the region appearing elsewhere on the list.

Trevor Hemmings

• Position on list: 5th
• Position last year: 4th
• Lancashire
• Estimated wealth: £980m
• Industry: construction
  
  

The Midlands

Stoke-on-Trent’s John Caudwell has been flying the flag for the Midlands – he’s been at the top of the Vocational Rich List for four out of the last five years.  With an estimated personal wealth of £1.6 billion, he single-handedly accounts for around one sixth of the top 25’s collective wealth.  But now he’s sold the Caudwell Group, will he still be in first place in 2008?

John Caudwell

• Position on list: 1st
• Position last year: n/a
• Stoke-on-Trent
• Estimated wealth: £1.6 billion
• Industry: engineering
  

London

London is losing ground in the homegrown talent stakes. The three Londoners in this year’s Vocational Rich List Top 25 are outnumbered by four Scots.  However, Eastender Laurence Graff is mounting a serious challenge for John Cauldwell’s crown.  John Frieda also shows that there’s more to shampoo than just lather – his empire is now worth a hair-raising £190 million.

Laurence Graff

• Position on list: 2nd
• Position last year: 2nd
• London
• Estimated wealth: £1.5 billion
• Industry: diamonds/jewellery
  

South East

The affluent image of the Home Counties and beyond is backed up by this year’s Vocational Rich List, which shows that the county of Kent is the most successful launchpad for millionaires, with former naval apprentice Rodger Dudding leading the charge.

Rodger Dudding

• Position on list: 21st
• Position last year: 16th
• Town
• Estimated wealth: £100 m
• Industry: engineering
  

South West

Gloucestershire is a hotspot for vocational wealth in the South West – although more as a base for high-profit firms, rather than the starting point for any of our millionaires. 

Sir David McMurtry and John Deer’s Renishaw is based in Stonehouse, netting the pair £225m and £125m respectively.

Wales

Wales has two representatives in this year’s 2007 Vocational Rich List - but Sir Terry Matthews and John Deer are big hitters.

Sir Terry Matthews

• Position on list: 4th
• Position last year:3rd
• Town
• Estimated wealth: £1 billion
• Industry: engineering
  

Ireland

Only one figure from Ireland and Northern Ireland makes the Rich List: Dublin’s Sir David McMurtry, a founding partner of Renishaw.

Sir David McMurtry

• Position on list: 9th
• Position last year: 6th
• Dublin
• Estimated wealth: £225m
• Industry: manufacturing