Sturton-by-Stow: HRH Princess Royal to officially open new educational centre

The Princess Royal is President of City & Guilds and in 2013 awarded the Gelder Group’s managing director, Steve Gelder MBE, who began his career with City & Guilds qualifications, the Prince Philip Medal for his commitment to apprenticeships.

At the visit she will be accompanied by City & Guilds’ chairman, Sir John Armitt, as well as City and Guilds’ chief executive Chris Jones.

The Gelder Group’s new Educational Centre will become the company’s Pre-Apprenticeship Academy and the new home of the Gelder Virtual School – a school set up in partnership with Lincolnshire County Council to educate ‘disaffected youths’ (14-16 year-olds that have, for whatever reason, fallen out of mainstream education) in work surroundings.

The approach has produced amazing results and won the company many admirers since its inception back in 2010.

Commenting on the royal visits, Mr Gelder said: “We are hugely excited and very proud of the fact that HRH The Princess Royal will be joining us on 16th July in her capacity as President of City & Guilds.”

“With an imminently looming and very scary construction skills shortage there has never been a better time for young people to consider construction as a career option so I am very excited by the fact that this visit will highlight this.”

“I also feel proud that the company is also being recognised for all the other great things it does in the community”.