Green-fingered youngsters looking to kick-start a career in horticulture are being urged to sign up to a groundbreaking new apprenticeship scheme.

The Bicester Avenue Garden Centre on Oxford Road, near Bicester, is offering two apprenticeships to people aged 16 and over.

Manager Adrian Drake said: “ The scheme is the first of its kind for the horticultural industry and is a great opportunity for people to gain employment, particularly during the current economic climate.

“There are excellent career benefits for people who do an apprenticeship as they can combine the experience of working with gaining qualifications. Apprentices learn on the job, building up knowledge and skills and earning money at the same time.”

The successful apprentices will study at Moreton Morrell Centre in Warwickshire where they will gain experience of a range of skills from fruit and vegetable production to the use of garden machinery.

Pay will be dependent on age but a bonus of £500 will be paid to those completing the scheme.

For more details e-mail apprenticeships@thegardencentregroup.co.uk for an application form. The closing date is Monday, March 19.

Meanwhile, more than 140 visitors attended an engineering open evening at Banbury firm Norbar Torque Tools, many of them youngsters from local schools.

Douglas Higgison a principal lecturer at Oxford Brookes University, who attended the event, said: “This was the third time I have been to a Norbar Open Evening and it was nearly double previous attendances.

“A lot of people are looking at engineering careers, either through the apprenticeship route, a BTEC at college or a university degree.”