Businesses got together today (February 8) to network at the University of Gloucestershire's National Apprenticeship Week Exhibition.

Just over 100 guests, including apprenticeship providers and businesses from across the South West, were at the event at the Gloucestershire Business School on the Oxstalls Campus in Gloucester.

The event showcased the benefits to business of higher and degree apprenticeships and highlighted how employers can set up apprenticeships to meet their business needs and provided information about how the Apprenticeship Levy is enabling businesses to offer apprenticeships.

Talking to Punchline-Gloucester editor, Mark Owen, Dr Polly Pick, director of business engagement and partnership within the Business School, said: "We've got different apprenticeship providers from across the county - Gloucestershire College, South West Apprenticeship Company (SWAC), Cirencester College and GET.

"We're all celebrating apprenticeships, this wonderful way of training and developing people right from Level 2 right up to Level 7 and our senior leader apprenticeship programme.

"New apprenticeships are very different from what people might think of as apprenticeships. Our oldest apprentice is 59.

"We're all working longer. We're all doing second, third or fourth careers and apprenticeships can be a great way of reskilling."

Lynette Barrett CEO of National Star was at the event. She was one of those who did a Level 7 apprenticeship with University of Gloucestershire.

National Star has just under 1300 staff working across eight locations in Gloucestershire, Herefordshire, Worcestershire and Wales.

Lynette said: "My journey started at National Star in 2001. I started in health and social care, like a care assistant, then worked my way through the ranks of management. I've done some vocational qualifications and did a certificate in management studies.

"My apprenticeship journey started in 2018 when I was chief operating officer and was given the opportunity to do the senior leadership apprenticeship at University of Gloucestershire, which would support my potential career ambition at that time to become a CEO."