Independent tracking research to gauge the effectiveness of the first ever VQ Day in July 2008 has revealed that over half of people (51 per cent) now agree that vocational qualifications are as important as GCSEs and A-levels - up from 44 per cent before VQ Day was launched in April 2008.

The evaluation report into VQ Day, published today, also reveals that one in five adults in the UK heard one of the VQ Day-related news stories and one in 10 had heard of the day itself.

Over 50 events were held across the UK to celebrate the day, including national events in London (attended by senior politicians from all three parties and hosted by Alesha Dixon) and at the Royal Welsh Show.

Andy Powell, Chief Executive of Edge, commented, "There are many paths to success, but every year we only see A-level and GCSE students celebrating their results in the TV news pictures and there has never before been one national day of celebration for the millions of people who gain vocational qualifications each year. In February 2008, the VQ Day steering group met for the first time with the aim of creating such a celebration. In just six months, the VQ Day steering group - led by Edge - has succeeded in laying a marker in the sand for future years to build on."

The VQ Day steering group contained representatives from City & Guilds, Edexcel, EDI and the Learning and Skills Council - who co-funded VQ Day adverts. Other organisations with representatives on the group included the FE Reputation Strategy Group, the Association of Colleges, Association of Learning Providers, Department for Innovation, Universities & Skills (DIUS), Ealing, Hammersmith and West London College, Federation of Awarding Bodies, fforwm, Institute of Leadership & Management (ILM), OCR and Qualifications & Curriculum Authority (QCA).

For more information, download the report or visit www.vqday.org to register your interest in taking part in VQ Day 2009.