THE Plastic Bottles Company in south Ulverston plans to take on its first apprentice by October.

The business in Cross Lane was founded four years ago by Glenn and Julie Doherty.

Mr Doherty is a former Barrow shipyard pipe fitter who became a professional diver, working worldwide for 28 years before hanging up his flippers in 2013. In 1994 he set up Exclusive Lets, a property lettings business in Ulverston, which he continues to run.

Primarily internet-based, the Plastic Bottles Company stocks and wholesales small empty plastic bottles, jars and pots, caps and accessories.

It has partnered with the training provider Gen2, which operates a skills centre in Lightburn Trading Estate, Ulverston, to set up an apprenticeship training programme.

The first recruit will be a warehouse operative apprentice.

The successful candidate will be get the opportunity to work towards industry qualifications, specifically a diploma in warehousing and storage, and will be provided with induction training.

No qualifications are required but the Dohertys say they want to offer the position to someone who "is keen to find good prospects" in Ulverston.

They describe the apprenticeship as an "exciting ground-floor opportunity for someone who wants to learn on the job, gain qualifications and get on the career ladder".

Gen2 has trained more than 2,500 apprentices in Cumbria and in excess of 90 per cent of these have progressed into full-time employment.