Caroline Calverley, Practice Manager at Chafes Solicitors LLP, one of Cheshire’s most respected law firms believes that higher education is essential to the UK’s future workforce. She believes the skills gained from university courses are increasingly vital and provide “the way forward” for employers.

Speaking at conference organised by the North West Universities Association, she explained that higher education offers the potential for workers to develop both professionally and personally.

Caroline is no stranger to the university world, having taken up further study at the age of 42. After years of practical job experience, she was eager to get a qualification that employers could measure.

Now she is working towards a Postgraduate Certificate in Legal Practice Management, a new course run by the Manchester Metropolitan University (MMU) School of Law.

The course is aimed at high-flying legal professionals – providing managing partners, senior partners and practice managers with vital training in business and management. It includes essential training in strategic planning, clients and markets, financial analysis, motivating and managing and leadership.

It’s a flexible qualification which offers busy professionals the chance to learn without disrupting their work schedule.

This employer led model is one which Caroline believes more HE institutions must adopt to provide necessary skills to public and private sector workers.