The winner will undertake two weeks of work experience at the Midlands-based company, which was praised by Leicester College last month for an outstanding contribution to training apprentices.

The firm is working with long-standing client Willie’s Cacao and is challenging packaging students to design a cartonboard gift box for goodies for its Chocolate Club members.

The pack will be delivered to the homes of club members on a monthly basis and will be targeted at people aged between 35 to 65.

Entrants studying part- or full-time at art school, a college or university in the UK or overseas must register online by 30 August. The winner will work in the design studio at the group’s HQ in Bardon, Leicestershire.

Marketing manager Nikki Clark said: "This represents a tremendous opportunity for students to promote their abilities and talents to a huge audience."

Clark, Willie’s Cacao owner Willie Harcourt-Cooze and Gwyn Davies, design director at creative agency BrandOpus, will judge the entries.

Harcourt-Cooze said: "I want people to experience some of the awakening I did: the zing of fruit or nut flavours that are the product of genetics, soil and climate."

Benson Group creates packaging for Two Sisters Food Group, Reckitt Benckiser and Samworth Brothers and clocks up annual sales of £120m.

In June Leicester College praised the company for training four apprentices, Becky Timson, Jamie Skipper Joe Jacklin and Daniel Cunningham in NVQ 3 qualifications.

"Like other companies we have an ageing workforce in the print department, and the industry is limited on where you can learn new skills," said human resources advisor Louise Webster.

"We needed to develop internally, plan for retirements and put in place succession planning."

For competition entry information visit www.bensongroup.co.uk

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