A TRAINING company set up six years ago in Hereford is celebrating its 500th successful graduate to obtain a vocational qualification.

Howarth Hancorn, formed by Julie Howarth and Jane Howes, specialises in the areas of management, business and administration, sport and recreation, retail, hotel and catering, and customer service.

Clients include the BBC, Herefordshire Council, the Learning and Skills Council and Warner Holidays.

Executive director of the LSC, Alan Curless OBE, presented the certificates, saying he was "delighted" to see a company dedicated to being an Investor in People and delivering "high quality" trainees.

The most recent trainees to be awarded certificates at the company's new head office in King Street, were: Lyndsay Lissaman, Kelly Bury, Lisa Burns, Claire Lewis, Jason Brown (500th successful trainee), Jeremy Wright, Faye Francis, Nick Jones, Jon Gray and Laura Chandler.