The Bradford founder of multi-million-pound car dealership JCT600 tops Yorkshire and the Humber’s “Vocational Rich List”, it was revealed today.

Jack Tordoff, who left school with no qualifications, is the 14th richest person in the UK with a background of vocational study or apprenticeship, a City & Guilds survey has shown.

Mr Tordoff started working as an apprentice mechanic at his family’s garage business at 15 after the death of his father, but decided he could make better money trading cars than repairing them.

The business he started with a loan of £1,000 from his mother now has 48 garages across the country and boasted a turnover last year of more than £600 million.

Mr Tordoff said: “I started buying second-hand cars, repairing them and cleaning them. It grew and grew.

“You’ve got to have a bit of luck. I really put everything into it and I’ve enjoyed every minute of it.”

The City & Guilds Vocational Rich List has been released to celebrate vocational showcase WorldSkills London 2011. It reveals the car dealership and additional assets bring Mr Tordoff’s fortune to £290 million.

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