Hospitality industry stars place high on vocational rich list

A career in hospitality really can be a case of rags to riches, according to the fourth Vocational Rich List from training provider City & Guilds.

The list ranks the nation's top millionaires that have amassed their fortunes from craft skills, typically leant through vocational qualifications and apprenticeships.

Highest placed of hospitality's representatives this year was, once again, Blackpool Tower and Paragon Hotels owner Trevor Hemmings, at third in the list and worth £928m.

Chefs also made their mark, with Gordon Ramsay at 24 worth £35m, Jamie Oliver at 25 with £25m, and Gary Rhodes at 30 worth £10m.

Robyn Jones, boss of Charlton House, flew the flag for contract catering at 28 with a fortune of £15m.

Billy Lowe the owner of Scotland's Saltire Inns drew with Authentic Food Company founders Lak and Kamal Basran at 25, both worth £25m.

Norwich City Football Club owner and cookery book guru Delia Smith came in at 29 with £13m.

Top of this year's list was John Caudwell, worth a staggering £1.6b who started out as an apprentice at the Michelin Tyre Company and now runs mobile phone company Caudwell Group.

The collective wealth of the nation's top 50 craft millionaires has increased by £5.4b over the past three years from £2.7b in 2003 to £8.1b in 2006.

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By Chris Druce

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