AN ICONIC cookery school has been named vocational employer of the year.

Celebrity chef Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall's River Cottage has been awarded the the title in recognition of the outstanding support in has provided to those undertaking vocational qualifications (VQ).

River Cottage has been praised for demonstrating an ongoing commitment to upskilling its workforce through vocational qualifications to help plug the industry's skills gap.

The award, sponsored by City & Guilds, is split into Large and Small and Medium Enterprise (SME) categories. The overall VQ employer of the year winner will be announced at the VQ Awards ceremony on Tuesday, June 9 by garden designer and television personality Diarmuid Gavin.

A spokesperson for River Cottage, said: "We're absolutely delighted that our investment in employees taking up vocational education has been recognised in this year's VQ SME employer of the year awards.

"Not only do vocational qualifications help the individual achieve their career goals, but they are also hugely beneficial to us as a business."

VQ Day will be held on Wednesday (10) and will celebrate the benefits of technical, practical and vocational learning.

The celebration will be led by independent education charity, the Edge Foundation.

David Harbourne, acting CEO of the Edge Foundation, said: "I a delighted that River Cottage has won this year's VQ SME employer of the year award.

"At every level of business, River Cottage recognises the enormous value of investing in staff development - particularly to enhance their technical, practical and vocational skills.

"Their commitment sends a strong message about the value of vocational qualifications and the benefits they bring to employers, individual employees and the economy as a whole."

River Cottage’s works closely with Exeter and Devon’s Employment and Skills Board. The business is hoping to create a 'world class workforce' in the region. This includes promoting cross-sector vocational qualifications and creating a ‘shared apprenticeship’ scheme to encourage vocational qualifications within a number of esteemed local businesses.