Ground-breaking college visit by Ruth Badger

Straight-talking businesswoman Ruth Badger is known for calling a spade a spade – but rarely is she called upon to use one.

But the former Apprentice runner-up made an exception in the case of the new £4.5 million Rural Enterprise Academy at South Staffordshire College near Penkridge.

The landmark development will be the first of its kind in Britain when it opens in September, offering a combination of GCSE, vocational and A-levels as a route to careers for 14 to 16-year-old students.

The 34-year-old, who runs her own consultancy firm, donned a hard hat to break the ground for the new academy.

She said: "I've an eight-year-old nephew and six-year-old niece living in the area and I'm glad there are places like this for them just down the road."

She also toured Rodbaston Hall, a restored 19th century former family home on the campus, which has just been opened as a wedding and conference centre, describing it as "a hidden gem."

She said: "I'm gobsmacked. I drive past the end of this road every time I visit my family in Wednesfield and I never knew about it. It's beautiful, and so tranquil and yet I can be on the motorway in five minutes.

"I shall definitely be using it for meetings in the future."

She also spoke to 70 business people about how to improve their firms in a recession.