Robots and Ribena will among the topics up for discussion at a business breakfast at the sparkling new Gloucestershire College Campus in the Forest of Dean this week.

Futurist Adam Starkey will be joined by Nick Howell from Lucozade Ribena Suntory and Laura Hurcombe from Coleford-based SPP Pumps at the event sponsored by Punchline-Gloucester.com.

The event headlined 'Growing a business in 2019 and beyond' aims to inspire and connect companies as well as showcasing what Gloucestershire College can offer in terms of apprenticeships and training.

Adam Starkey is the chief executive officer of Gloucestershire-based Green Gourmet and the vice chairman of GFirst LEP who will be giving insights from his new book Surfing the Digital Tsunami.

He will be joined at the microphone by Mr Howell, the engineering improvement manager at Lucozade Ribena Suntory and Ms Hurcombe, the business planning manager at SPP Pumps.

Andy Bates, Chief Financial Officer at Gloucestershire College, said:"We are excited to host this event in association with Punchline Magazine and welcome businesses to our beautiful Forest of Dean campus.

"It will be insightful to hear from Adam, Laura and Nick and get there take on growing a business in 2019 and beyond as they cover futureproofing, talent management, investment, apprenticeships and more.

"Our broad range of apprenticeships, further and higher education courses - from engineering through to computing and business studies - means we are a key pivot in future-proofing our local economy.

" We are excited to support businesses in the region, the Forest has a lot to offer young people and we are pleased to support local businesses with professional training and apprenticeship opportunities to retain talent in the local area."

Mark Owen, the editor of Punchline said he was looking forward to an informative and entertaining morning.

"Anyone who has heard Adam Starkey speak before will know they are in for an entertaining and thought-provoking turn as he looks at how businesses might evolve and what they need to prepare for," he said.

"And to have two of the Forest of Dean's biggest employers involved as well is really exciting. SPP Pumps employs 250 staff in the district and turns over something like £70 million.

"Lucozade Ribena Suntory employs 330 staff in Gloucestershire and recently invested £13 million in its Coleford factory. Both are champions of apprenticeships and both international businesses.

"The aim is to bring businesses in the Forest together. We think the event should offer plenty to learn and there should be plenty of new faces to meet too."

Mr Howell will speak about how one of the UK's leading soft drinks manufacturers works, what its recent investment in the factory means and the importance of apprentices in the work place.

Ms Hurcombe will discuss growing and retaining talent with apprenticeships.

There will be a full-English breakfast for delegates in the college's new restaurant, The View, and the opportunity to meet the institution's Business Hub team on a one-to-one bases to get advice on training and apprentices, including information about funding.

Growing a business in 2019 and beyond.

Gloucestershire College, Forest of Dean Campus, Northern United Way, Cinderford GL14 3FF (for sat nav use GL14 2YT)

9:00am - Arrivals and Breakfast

9:45am - Welcome, Andy Bates (Gloucestershire College)

9.50am - Introduction, Mark Owen (Punchline)

9.55am - Adam Starkey, CEO of Green Gourmet and Vice Chair of the GFirst LEP

10.15am - Laura Hurcombe, Business Planning Manager at SPP Pumps

10:35am - Nick Howell, Engineering Improvement Manager at Lucozade Ribena Suntory

10.50am - Advice sessions with the Gloucestershire College Business Hub Team

11:15am - Close

For more information and to book your place click here.