Four-year training will cover all areas of Garnetts work from paper making to engineering. The NVQs will be gained through hands-on and college work.

Its first Advanced Modern Apprentice, 16-year-old Martin Tyrell, is training to be an electrician and will take four years to gain an NVQ Level 3.

But the scheme will be rolled out into paper making and other areas in future, said personnel manager David Dickinson.

"This is a new venture for us," he said. "Weve not used apprentices for several years but there is a need for young talent and the initiative will be expanded next year."

Another spokesman at the Otley firm said: "As the manufacturing gloom continues to hit investment and jobs we are returning to traditional values to improve our competitiveness."

Trainees will learn written and verbal skills, decision-making and IT know-how as well as trade specialisms.

Garnett is working with JTL, a training-management agency for electrical contractors, to teach Tyrell. He works alongside senior electrician Chris Moon, the firms apprentice of the year in 1978.

Story by Jez Abbott