Official Opening on the 18th Feb 2011 by TRH The Prince of Wales and The Duchess of Cornwall
The Prince of Wales praised efforts to nurture the next generation of British engineering talent as he toured the JCB Academy.
Prince Charles described the work of the JCB Academy as "remarkable" he was later joined by the Duchess of Cornwall on Friday the 18th Feb to officially open the £22 million Rocester, complex.
The Duchess, who was wearing a gray crepe wool coat with Balmoral tartan collar and cuffs by Roy Allan, and sporting her Archers Addict gold badge marking her recent appearance on the BBC Radio 4 programme, was presented with daffodils by local schoolchildren as she arrived.
After meeting staff and students and seeing pupils working on both design and production, the Prince tipped the academy to make a huge difference to Britain's future.
In a short speech to staff and others with links to the academy, he said: "I have been so impressed by what you have managed to achieve with this new academy.
"They (the students) are working incredibly hard in a remarkable atmosphere with clearly so many remarkable teachers and tutors and mentors, which it seems to me is so important."
Charles, who was shown molten aluminium being cast during his tour of the school, added: "It seems to me that it is absolutely crucial to have this element of training, apprenticeship and vocational study.
"I think this academy and others, I hope, like it, will make an enormous difference to this country's future... particularly because of the need to establish and develop, rapidly, a low- carbon economy."
After there visit Charles and Camilla went on to Royal Crown Derby, where they were shown the china company's Titanic exhibition, History On A Plate, and got to see the factory's special commemorative royal wedding items.
