Darlington gave the world the railways. It built the rudder for Titanic. It constructed world-famous bridges. It made its name with the things it made.

So there has to be something fundamentally wrong when companies in a town, which built a world-wide reputation for manufacturing, can't find local workers with the right skills to meet their modern needs.

It is that skills gap which the Foundation For Jobs - Darlington's pioneering initiative to tackle youth unemployment - is striving to address. And in the two years it has existed, the foundation is making progress thanks to the way private and public organisations have worked together in genuine partnership.

It is not another talking shop - it is producing results in creating apprenticeships and meaningful links between schools, colleges and employers.

The Duke of York was clearly impressed by what he saw in Darlington today, when he visited Darlington College and Queen Elizabeth Sixth Form College in the town and saw for himself the foundation at work.

The profile of the project has already benefited greatly from the patronage of the Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby, and today's Royal visit - arranged by The Northern Echo - can only provide further impetus.

It is a big step from education to the world of work. It can be intimidating or even frightening. But what is happening in Darlington is making that step a little easier - a little bolder.

Congratulations to all those who have played a part, no matter big or small, in making it work so far.