THE chief executive of a group of nurseries in Knutsford and the north west has been left ‘overwhelmed’ after picking up an MBE for services to apprenticeships.

Jennie Johnson, CEO and founder of Kids Allowed, which has a branch in Mobberley Road, collected the honour from Prince Charles last week.

Jennie was recognised for investing time and money into supporting young people in apprenticeships over the past 13 years.

“I’ve been overwhelmed by how many people have said lovely things to me about it,” she told the Guardian.

“It’s one of those things where it only really sunk in how special it was once everyone else congratulated me for it.

“I was really surprised when I found out about it, and just completely overwhelmed – it was so nice to be recognised in such a way.”

More than 100 people have gained an apprenticeship qualification with the help of Jennie Johnson in the three years prior to her recognition in the Queen’s Birthday Honours in June.

Her investment in young people impressed Prince Charles, who personally thanked her for her efforts at the investiture ceremony.

She said: “He said how wonderful it was what we were doing, and that I was taking such an interest in young people.

“He said it was really impressive to see a chief executive looking to the future and to help people in the area.

“I went with my husband, two of my children and my dad, and it was a really special day – it was up there with my wedding day and my children being born.”

Jennie founded Kids Allowed in 2003, and the company has since expanded to seven day nurseries, including sites in Stockport, Cheadle and Macclesfield.