Gloucestershire’s global enterprises

Founded in every corner of our county, Gloucestershire is proud to be the birthplace of several highly successful, internationally recognised businesses. Many of which offer tailored apprenticeship programmes to our students at both undergraduate and postgraduate level.

Take Superdry, whose headquarters remain in Cheltenham – the very place where it all began. Starting out as a small market stall back in 2003, the multi-national company now trades worldwide. Superdry has locations all over the UK, as well as mainland Europe, Australia, South Africa and USA, among other places.

It’s known as one of the fastest growing multi-channel businesses. They built a brand that cut through the global apparel market at record speed, rapidly becoming the largescale lifestyle brand we all know and love today.

Another formidable local enterprise is Ecotricity. Its founder, Dale Vince, had one mission – change the way electricity is made and used in Britain – this mission still stands today.

Green energy didn’t exist in 1996, so when Ecotricity offered it for the first time, they not only became Britain’s first green electric company but the world’s first. Their inception kick-started the now global, green electricity movement.

With offices and subsidiary ventures located in and around Stroud, they continue to push boundaries. And are tackling more than just the creation and use of the world’s energy sources. For them it’s also about what we eat and how we get around – these things need to be challenged too.

As the university continues to partner with local businesses, our students are presented with opportunities to collaborate with industry experts, and can play their very own part in a business’s future growth.