OKEHAMPTON College principal Chris Powell challenged representatives gathered at the first Business Breakfast of the year over the need for a vocational training centre for the town. Mr Powell said there was still more work for the college to do too. Within the next six months a big exercise would be undertaken to create a vision for its future. He wanted the college to be regarded as an ?excellent school? and one that met the needs of all youngsters. Mr Powell was guest speaker at the meeting of prominent members of the local business community last Wednesday. Although his career in education started as a teacher, Mr Powell told the business people he now found himself heavily involved in projects which cover personnel, finance, and building issues. The college has an annual budget of £5-million and is the third largest employer in Okehampton. It sits on a site with a capital value well in excess of £25-million. Mr Powell said he was pleased with the progress made in sixth form education. The Learning Skills Council had recently carried out a survey across the country which rated Okehampton College one of the top performing schools in Devon and Cornwall. He said that as well as offering a centre for young people to develop vocational skills, the town also ?desperately needed? a youth facility. Along with academic success, he said one of the college?s main aims was to prepare young people for adult life and give them opportunities to become good citizens. ?Most people are capable of far more than they think they are.? He believed the way to encourage them was through ?positive praise?. Mr Powell also described the journey he took on the way to becoming head of Okehampton College. Growing up in Rochester, Kent, he was the first member of his family to attend university. He gained a degree in economics at the University of Essex. Although teaching was an early option he chose to train as a chartered accountant. He soon realised this was not to be a lifelong career, and tried a variety of jobs, which included a brief spell refuse collecting. Opting for education he carried out his teacher training in Coventry. His first school was in Reading where he taught economics. Mr Powell visited Plymouth for the first time to attend an interview at John Kitto Community College, turning up with his arm in a sling following a cricket injury. But his true sporting passion was rugby, not just playing but refereeing. He would love to see Okehampton College become the leading state school for rugby in the south west. Mike Davies who organises the Motivation South West business breakfasts said: ?I think it would be good for Chris to write a book. When he spoke of his growing up in Kent, through to where he is now I can see why he fights to provide every member of the college with opportunity.? The next breakfast is on Wednesday, February 9, and the speaker will be David Tall, from Plymouth Argyle. He is an associate director of the Coca-Cola Championship club and an ex-submarine commander. Tickets are £10 and details are available through Motivation South West?s Okehampton office.