POOLE luxury boat builder Sunseeker International will be hosting a Royal visit next month.

HRH The Earl Of Wessex is set to visit the company's Poole Quay manufacturing base, at Poole Quay, as part of his work to promote The Duke of Edinburgh's Award (DofE).

Prince Edward, the youngest of the Queen's children, achieved his own DofE gold award 30 years ago. Today he continues to champion youth achievement programmes.

Sunseeker, a significant local employer, was recently awarded 'Best Apprenticeship and Training Scheme' at the International Boat Builder Awards.

The yacht building firm invited HRH The Earl of Wessex for a tour of their factory, to see its award-winning boats being constructed and to meet with its staff, including some of its 116 apprentices.

Sunseeker International chief executive officer Phil Popham said: "We are looking forward to welcoming HRH The Earl of Wessex to Sunseeker and to Poole, this is such a big occasion for the business and we are extremely proud he accepted our invitation.

"While he is here, we want to demonstrate the hard work we do as a business to promote economic growth through the world-class design, engineering and manufacture of more than 150 boats per year. We are proud to be a British manufacturing and exports success story."

Following his tour, Prince Edward will take a trip on a Sunseeker yacht across Poole Harbour for a formal dinner at Brownsea Castle. He'll be accompanied by guests including Sunseeker apprentice Louis Castle.

Louis, now working as a test and commissioning engineer for Sunseeker, will deliver a speech following his achievement of the Royal recognition - the coveted Queen’s Silver Medal.

"I am thrilled to have been invited to meet with HRH The Earl of Wessex and to share my story of the Queen's Silver Medal," said Louis. "Sunseeker's apprenticeship programme has been a huge stepping stone for me.

"It has supported me in developing vital skills required for the delivery of these incredible yachts."

The Queen's Silver Medal is an annual contest, facilitated by the Worshipful Company of Shipwrights, and provides development opportunities for marine apprentices.

The Royal visit is scheduled for June 12.