Paula Barrett attended a reception hosted by the prime minister David Cameron and business secretary Sajid Javid earlier this month.

At the event Cameron announced the creation of an Apprenticeship Delivery Board, which aims to encourage more companies to increase the number of places on offer. Members of the board include representatives from the likes of Barclays and Channel 4.

Barrett was invited in recognition of her successful career at Hays Travel. She joined the Sunderland-based company from school and completed her own apprenticeship in 1992.

“I felt very proud to be invited to such a prestigious event where careers like mine were celebrated. I hope this will inspire young people to take on an apprenticeship,” Barrett said.

She is now responsible for the performance, productivity and profitability of more than 120 retail branches. These branches had an annual turnover of more than £220 million in the 2014-2015 financial year.

Javid said: “Three million more apprenticeships by 2020 means even more life-changing opportunities for our young people. More than that, apprenticeships make sense for business. We are putting employers at the heart of quality apprenticeships so that young people get the skills they need to succeed.”

Chair of the Apprenticeship Delivery Board, Nadhim Zahawi Conservative MP for Stratford-upon-Avon, said: “As ever more great British businesses get involved, and with the inclusion of higher and degree level apprenticeships, we can raise the status of apprenticeships while delivering three million starts by 2020.”

Hays Travel offers apprenticeships in both its nationwide retail branches, as well as its head office. In both 2013 and 2014, Hays Travel was highly commended at the National Apprenticeship Awards.