Kent Choices Live Apprenticeship and Skills Fair

The Duke of York  The Duke visited Kent Choices Live at the Kent Showground as part of HRH’s Apprenticeship Week Away Day on 14th March, 2013.

The Kent Choices Live event brought together young people, employers and skills training providers in the county to showcase the many options that are available for people still in education and those looking for work.

The Duke visited a number of exhibitors at the event, including the South East England Apprenticeship Company, who provide help to take on apprentices to interested businesses; EPIK, who teach computer programming skills; and local training provider Learn To, who had invited the Duke to meet their apprentices.

Learn to Development Coordinator Helen Cumming said:

“We had invited HRH to visit when he became Patron of COATA (Confederation of Apprenticeship Training Agencies) in 2012, and so were very excited to receive a phone call from his office confirming that he would be visiting us at our stand at Kent Choices Live. HRH chatted with apprentices and members of our team and was very interested in our work at the grass roots of the skills and employment challenges which face Kent”.

HRH then joined a discussion with local employers, council leadership and apprentices, to discuss how to support young people in the local communities.

Kent Choices Live ran for two days and was attended by over 8,000 young people. Kent County Council Early Intervention Manager, Mike Rayner, said:

“The Duke of York’s visit to Kentchoices live was a real boost to the event. His presence raised the profile of the event and made everyone feel that their commitment to Kentchoices live was valued. His presence has added to the legacy of the event in the county – we are already planning for the next academic year.”