Michael Portillo is set to officially open a new apprentice training centre in Chesham later this month.

The former cabinet minister will be in Chesham to open the new facility at Silverson Machines on 21 October which will help train future mechanical engineers.

The training school has recently taken on six local youngsters on their five-year indentured apprenticeship programme – now it its second year - who are already benefitting from the new facility.

Silverson Machines Ltd. say they hope to recruit at least four new apprentices to their training programme, which offers qualification to NVQ Level 3 and a secure job, each year.