Bunzl Vending Services, the UKs largest independent vending operator, has launched its first engineering apprenticeship to tackle the skills shortage.

After difficulties recruiting field-staff operatives the company will take on six new joiners and pair them with their own mentor.
 
One apprentice each will come from Scotland, the northwest, central, the south and London.
 
One of their first tasks will be taking a vending machine apart and putting it back together again Apprentices will also attend quarterly office-based workshops where they will learn health and safety, customer care, electrical applications, water filtration and pack testing. Training will also be given at the company's call centre.
 
Paula Eavis, HRD at Bunzl vending services, said: "It's very much a hands-on scheme. We want our apprentices to build an individual portfolio of achievements"