Dear Editor, Vocational qualifications aren’t just carpentry and plumbing.

Over the next month thousands of potential students will be considering whether university is the right route for them.

With all the talk of higher education versus vocational courses one vital element is often missing. Vocational courses are not limited to the likes of carpentry, plumbing and other skilled manual trades.

These trades are of course vital to the West Midlands economy, but it is also important to remember that other bodies such as ACCA (the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants) offer courses to those looking for a career in finance but who don’t want the burden of university debt, which could run to more than £30,000.

It doesn’t mean that you have to give up on the thought of a career in finance, or indeed many other professions if you decide university isn’t for you.

I would urge readers to remember that there are other options available to them to gain entry to a professional career.

Glyn Morris

West Midlands Members’ Network President, ACCA