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.
“I wasn’t really nervous until I dropped something off the machine onto the floor as he was about to walk in.
“He seemed all right when I spoke to him though, I don’t think he noticed.”
Tanraj added: “He was asking me about my job and what I was making, it was nice he came here.”
Ashley said: “He seemed interested in what we were doing. It’s the first time I’ve met any of the Royal Family, he was alright.”
Earlier in the day the Earl of Wessex opened a new teaching block at Heckmondwike Grammar School.
He then went on to open a youth club in Leeds then, as patron, opened the Northern Ballet’s new headquarters in Leeds.
See the video at:www.examiner.co.uk
