THE government's Skills Minister has visited an apprenticeship event at a North-East College.

Nick Boles was at Guisborough's Prior Pursglove College to see for himself what local businesses are doing to encourage people into apprenticeships.

The event, organised by the East Cleveland Conservative Party, had representatives from a number of companies including SABIC, Caterpillar, Shape Training, Learning Curve Skills, Tees Components and Whitby Fishing School, on hand to speak to students.

Asma Shaffi, assistant principal at the College, said: “We are delighted to host this event to promote apprenticeships and give our students the chance to explore alternative opportunities for progression."

Prior Pursglove students Adam Olley and Liam Watson, both from Middlesbrough, chatted to Nick Boles and Will Goodhand, the conservative prospective parliamentary candidate for Middlesbrough South and East Cleveland, as they visited the event.