Just two days after Sir Alan Sugar hired Yasmina Siadatan as his new apprentice, he came face to face with the real thing when he met one of Access' own apprentices at a major event in Gateshead.

Sir Alan, who is heading up the national publicity campaign for Apprenticeships, was in Gateshead to host the last of 4 national employer events to herald the launch of the National Apprenticeship Service.

16 year old Jade Bruce was one of three apprentices from across the region selected to meet Sir Alan and government ministers and to answer questions from some of the 300 businesses present at the event, held at Gateshead's Lancastrian Suite.

Sir Alan and Under Secretary of State Lord Young both said how impressed they had been with the apprentices they met. Both commented particularly about Jade's background as a Young Apprentice, gaining valuable experience from the age of 14 through the programme delivered by Access, ITEC North East and Kingsmeadow School.

Jade, and her employer Laura Fox from Rok Build, impressed everyone so much that they were snapped up for interviews with the press and both featured on BBC and ITV local news later that evening.

Managing Director at Access, Malcolm Armstrong added,

"We welcome the launch of the National Apprenticeship Service and were pleased to take part in the event. Jade and her employer did an excellent job in explaining the benefits of Apprenticeships to those present and then again through press interviews. It was plain to see how much Jade has developed in the last few years - what confidence and such great communication skills in somebody so young!"

For more information about Apprenticeships visit www.apprenticeships.co.uk or contact one of our Business Solutions team on 0191 490 4651/2.

Photo: Hosting the Seminar in Gateshead, Sir Alan Sugar is joined by Iain Wright MP, Parliamentary Under Secretary of State, apprentice, Jade Bruce and her employer at Rok Build, Laura Fox and Business Solutions Consultant at Access, Mel Taylor.