The highly-skilled workforce of the Forest of Dean have been praised by some of the biggest employers in the district.

Representatives of Lucozade Ribena Suntory and SPP Pumps were full of praise for their employees at an event co-sponsored by Punchline-Gloucester.com and Gloucestershire College.

The business breakfast headlined 'Growing a business in 2019 and beyond' saw more than 50 representatives from Gloucestershire firms descend on the College's sparkling Cinderford campus.

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 After a breakfast and an introduction from Punchline editor Mark Owen and Andy Bates from the College, three key speakers enthralled the crowd.

Futurist Adam Starkey, the CEO of Green Gourmet spoke about the future of business and how automation will impact our lives and work in the future.

Punchline editor Owen said: "It was a fascinating talk by Adam, where he said that the jobs of the future haven't even been considered as a possibility yet.

"He asked us 'what if' questions, asking about the further impact of changes, such as how automation in cars will lead to less accidents and therefore less organ donors in the future.

"Laura Hurcombe of SPP Pumps also spoke superbly about her career, from being an apprentice at Renishaw to working for SPP installing Pumps in the Channel Tunnel and the Shard.

"She also spoke about the role that the Coleford-based company paid in the rescue of the Wild Boars Thai football team, who were stuck in flooded caves last year.

"And finally, Nick Howell from LRS told us about how their Coleford factory takes plastic pellets and 95 per cent of the UK's blackcurrants and turns them into the drink we all love.

"All of the speakers highlighted and praised the fantastic, highly-skilled workforce there is in the Forest of Dean.

"And that proved to us all that there is a future for us as a workforce, with or without robots in the future."

The invited guests were also wowed by the stunning new Forest of Dean Campus, designed by Gloucestershire architects Roberts Limbrick and build by county compatriots Barnwood Construction.

For more information on what Gloucestershire College can offer your business, through its apprenticeship programs, click here  or email business.hub@gloscol.ac.uk.