No matter how well you did at GCSE, Pembrokeshire College can offer you the largest choice of courses in the county for either university entrance or for the first step in your career. They can even offer re-sits in maths, English and science. Their exam and inspection results speak volumes about the quality of education and training you will receive. Many school leavers are realising that the door is open to good, well-paid jobs and careers through skills training. Local and national data shows an upsurge in applicants for training in plumbing, mainly because of the large sums that can potentially be earned in many parts of the country. There are now similar opportunities beckoning for trainees in a number of practical areas such as carpentry, brickwork, electronics, catering and hospitality, and IT. The modern apprenticeship route actively encourages school leavers with good GCSE grades to enter skills training at both college and work simultaneously. Many modern apprentices have developed well-established careers on good wages by the time their peers leave university and start applying for jobs. The Vocational Rich List emphasises that vocational training can be a route to riches. The collective fortune of the top 25 trade-trained men and women, the craft millionaires, now exceeds £4.26 billion. Chefs Jamie Oliver and Gordon Ramsey and designers Karen Millen and Alexander McQueen all began with vocational training at college. The message is clear - practical skills linked to personal initiative can deliver well-paid careers and can also take you right to the top of the tree. Vocational courses are also a good route to specialist university courses. Pembrokeshire College student Pauline Wai-Mun Hui is one of only 18 applicants selected to study on the BSc cosmetic science course at the London Institute of Fashion, starting in September. Pauline, who is from Aberystwyth, completed a National Diploma in beauty therapy this year at Pembrokeshire College. Commenting on her achievement, Pauline said: "I really enjoyed making hand and face creams from different ingredients on my course - and that experience set me thinking about working in product formulation for a large cosmetics company like the Body Shop." A National Diploma is equivalent to three A-Levels, and provides students with a mixture of theory and practical elements. Contact Pembrokeshire College on 0800 716236 if you are interested in finding out more.