The founder of The Big Issue, the chief executive of Gloucestershire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust and the director of employment and skills for GFirst LEP will be the keynote speakers at a University of Gloucestershire apprenticeship event on Wednesday 9 February 2022.
All will be sharing their perspectives on how apprenticeships can help employers as they emerge from the pandemic, with the university staging the free online event in support of National Apprenticeship Week (Monday 7 to Sunday 13 February 2022).
Dr Polly Pick, the university’s director of business engagement and partnerships, said: ‘We firmly believe that apprenticeships play a key role in improving productivity and driving economic growth. We have witnessed countless examples since we launched our first higher and degree apprenticeships in 2017.
‘Our agenda this year includes high-profile speakers and we will also suggest how apprenticeship programmes available in the county might help local employers to address particular skills challenges they face.’
Lord Bird founded The Big Issue in 1991 and is now co-chair of the All-Party Parliamentary Groups on Future Generations.
Deborah Lee, ceo of Gloucestershire Hospital’s NHS Foundation Trust, will discuss how apprenticeships can create opportunities for new career entrants to continuous professional development.
Peter Carr, the director of employment and skills for local enterprise partnership GFirst LEP, will discuss how skills shortages are impacting county businesses and how apprenticeships can be part of the solution.
For more information, or to register for the event, visit glos.ac.uk.
By Andrew Merrell
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