Ketan Vyas

Manor Park pharmacist praises vocational training

Kay Atwal, Chief Reporter Monday, July 9, 2012
10:06 AM

A pharmacy graduate from Manor Park has praised the impact vocational qualifications had on his route to a career as a pharmacist.

Trainee pharmacist Ketan Vyas, 25, of Gloucester Road, was speaking ahead of this year’s national VQ Day on June 20. VQ Day is a national celebration of vocational qualifications for students, teachers and employers.

After studying a vocational science qualification at Redbridge College, Ketan went on to achieve a 2:1 in Pharmacy MPharm (Hons) at the University of Hertfordshire.

He is now undertaking a mandatory year of pre-registration training with Lloyds Pharmacy and hopes to become an independent prescriber.

Ketan said: “I have first-hand experience of how passionate the staff at Redbridge College are about vocational qualifications. It means so much for me to have been able to achieve what I have. At university I competed directly with A Level students, and went on to achieve better results than many.

“I’m the first person in my family to work in the medical profession and that can be daunting, but I just wanted to work in a field where I could help people. Studying a vocational qualification would be suited to someone who is a practical person, is determined and likes a challenge.”

Vocational courses offer a practical, real-world alternative to A Levels to prepare learners for university or the world of work.

VQ Day aims to shine a light on and recognise the millions of talented and skilled people throughout the UK who are awarded vocational qualifications.

It was launched in 2008 to raise the status of practical and vocational learning and celebrate vocational achievement.

Ketan studied the two-year BTEC Level 3 Extended Diploma in Applied Science (Medical Science) course at Redbridge College between 2005 and 2007.