One’s Hired! Prince Edward meets the apprentices in Brighouse and school pupils in Heckmondwike

PRINCE Edward has joined forces with apprentices – but Lord Alan Sugar was nowhere to be seen.

The prince, known as the Earl of Wessex, visited Kits engineering skills training centre in Brighouse yesterday where he met the young engineering apprentices.

He toured the facilities, enjoyed a lunch and told the apprentices it was good to see them at work.

The Earl told them: “It sounds as though you are enjoying the experience and it’s certainly helping build your confidence as you go out into the workforce and take up your jobs full time.

“I’d also like to thank the employers who give the jobs at the end – it’s all well and good coming here and doing the training but it’s even better that it’s recognised in the business community.”

Three of the apprentices he met were Ashley Ellam, 16, of Kirkheaton, Tanraj Bookher, 17, of Lepton and Jack Moore, 17, of Crosland Moor.

Ashley helped make the pen that was presented to the Earl by mechanic and tool fitter Sam Groom, 21.

The apprentices have worked at Kits since last August and Jack said: “We were told about two weeks ago he was coming and that he might want to speak to us while we were working.