Two multi-millionaires who started their careers as lowly apprentices in Bradford have been named among the richest self-made people in Britain.

Jack Tordoff, who turned his father's garage business into the multi-million pound car empire JCT600, and TV celebrity Alan Titchmarsh, who started as a trainee council gardener in his home town of Ilkley, both feature on this year's City & Guilds vocational rich list.

Mr Tordoff has moved up the list to be the 10th richest former apprentice in the country - moving up one place from last year's ranking.

City and Guilds now estimates his wealth at £210million, with JCT600's 33 dealerships across the north of England contributing more than £200m of the fortune and personal assets making up the remainder.

Late last year the company opened a new state-of-the-art headquarters in Apperley Bridge, Bradford.

The enterprise is a far-cry from Mr Tordoff's humble beginnings as an apprentice mechanic at his father Edward's small firm.

But earlier this year Mr Tordoff told the Telegraph & Argus the values behind the business remained unchanged for more than 60 years.

"In the past the motor trade has had a bit of a negative reputation and the stereotype of the silver-tongued, pushy salesman to a certain extent still exists," he said.

"However, today you simply cannot get away with that. Customers are too savvy and knowledgeable to be fooled in that way and with the advent of the Internet it has never been easier to do research.

He said: "We spend thousands of pounds each year training our sales executives and always give them the same message - that people buy from people. If you treat people with warmth and respect they will buy from you."

And in the past Mr Tordoff has emphasised the importance of learning a vocational trade.

"I think you grow up a lot quicker when you go straight into industry, " he said.

"Going to university is just an extension of being at school but you can often learn more on the job."

It is also not the first time that Mr Titchmarsh has been named on the rich list. This year he is ranked joint 56th with an estimated £10m fortune. He has not only enjoyed success with programmes such as Ground Force and the Chelsea Flower Show, but he also has a range of gardening products sold under his name and has penned novels, gardening books and autobiographies.

This year Yorkshire has overtaken London, with five representatives in the top tier of the index, compared to only three Londoners in the top 25.

Chris Humphries, director-general of City and Guilds, said: "Our research shows that self-made millionaires and entrepreneurs tend to set up locally and continue to pour investment back into their home towns and cities - which is great news for Yorkshire. At City & Guilds we're working to change the perception that work-related education is the poor alternative' to the traditional academic route.

The vocational rich list sends out a strong message that it's possible for people who choose the vocational path to amass personal wealth and, what's more, to become industry leaders."

Compiled annually, the vocational rich list tracks the fortunes of businessmen and women who started careers with a work-related qualification or training course and used it as a springboard to success.

e-mail: rebecca.wright @bradford.newsquest.co.uk