Lytham resident Rowley, founder and managing director of Rowland Homes, has been awarded a prestigious Highly Commended Certificate from the Prince, who is president of the City and Guilds Institute.
Certificates are awarded to exceptional individuals who have displayed outstanding individual achievement in the fields of science, technology and industrial development. All holders have been helped on their way to success by City and Guilds qualifications.
The Leyland-born entrepreneur was one of only two recipients personally chosen by His Royal Highness to showcase the merits of City and Guilds.
As a 19-year-old apprentice bricklayer, Paul undertook a City and Guilds Certificate, followed by an ONC in Building as a way of bolstering his professional credibility.
Having left school at 16 with a shortage of formal qualifications, the vocational pathway offered the opportunity to combine education with on the job experience.
The qualifications proved to be a key building block in Paul's burgeoning career in the property industry, reflecting his ambition to unlock his potential and maximise future opportunities.
Founding Rowland Homes in 1993, the 42-year old family man has gone on to become an established and respected member of the local business community and a major local employer.
Rowland has just celebrated its 15th anniversary in style, achieving success in the property industry's most highly regarded awards, a reflection of the company's transformation from small local developer to a major regional player. Rowley also picked up his third Property Entrepreneur of the Year title from Entrepreneur magazine.
Paul and his wife Sara attended a private ceremony at Buckingham Palace on June 10, where Paul was presented with his certificate by The Duke of Edinburgh.
Paul said: "I wasn't particularly academic at school and upon entering the working world at 16, recognised the significant value and door-opening opportunities qualifications could bring.
"For me, City and Guilds provided the ideal route to combine on the job experience with theoretical knowledge, giving me confidence in my abilities and motivation to fulfil my ambitions."