TONY Blair did finally see his pledge to get half of all young Britons into university – but what did this actually achieve?

Many of these graduates have now been left with worrying debts – especially after all three major political parties played their part in rising tuition fees to dizzying levels.

And, of course, not all of these 20-somethings were able to find a job that would allow them to make a start on paying back the loans that saw them through higher education.

The former Prime Minister's determination to get so many into university also seemed to lessen the focus on those who preferred to learn a trade on finishing school.

This, coupled with the rebranding of polytechnics, only added to a stigmatisation of vocational subjects.

But, as many successful entrepreneurs have shown, learning a trade is often more useful than returning home with a degree from an expensive and over-hyped university.

So it is great to see the latest development at the Queen Elizabeth School in Bromyard where a new centre will be built to teach students traditional trades such as bricklaying while also passing on skills to enter the motor industry.

Herefordshire has flirted with a similar model before in the shape of the Robert Owen School.

But this new "Vocational Studies Centre" is different as it is being set up at an established secondary school that is already teaching the other essential subjects to its pupils.

It is just a shame that it has taken the backing of county philanthropists to bring this project to fruition.

With all that money flooding in from tuition fees, you would think central government could fund these ventures itself.