A winner of reality TV programme The Apprentice is to be guest speaker at the largest ever Cornwall Business Club hosted by Truro and Penwith College.

Lee McQueen, who was hired by business supremo Sir Alan Sugar in series four, will speak on the benefits of apprenticeships.

All Cornish businesses are invited to attend the event, which takes place in the Fal Building of the college’s Truro campus next Thursday, March 29.

The event, Apprenticeships: Create the future of your business today!, will be broadcast via a live webcast to venues in Penzance, Launceston and the Isles of Scilly. Working alongside the college are the National Apprenticeships Scheme, Jobcentre Plus and Cornwall Works.

There will also be a question and answer session with MP Sarah Newton, human resources manager at The Seafood Restaurant Michael Rabone, head of business development with the National Apprenticeship Service Helen France, learning and development manager with Cornwall Foundation Trust Sally Wilson, Cornwall Council assistant chief executive Paul Masters, Jobcentre Plus partnership manager Carolyn Webster and Truro and Penwith College principal David Walrond.

Apprenticeship training is now available up to degree level, for most job roles.

At the event businesses will be told about the benefits and opportunities of having an apprentice, such as free vacancy advertising, up to 100 per cent government funding for training and incentive payments up to £2,500 with no upper age limit for apprentices.

Existing staff can also benefit from apprenticeship programmes and with new higher level apprenticeships there is potential for progression within businesses.

The Truro and Penwith College Business Centre team will be on hand t to provide further information and explain the application process.

Mark Yeoman, deputy director of the Convergence Partnership Office for Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly, said: “Better skills are vital to both business success and maximising personal potential. Apprenticeships are one of the ‘go to’ routes for skills development and ESF Convergence is playing a key role in widening apprenticeships provision.”