One of Fakenham's biggest employers is to launch a new apprenticeship scheme later this year which could create managers of the future.Confectionery manufacturer Kinnerton's, currently in its busiest production time in the run-up to Easter by which time it will have produced more than 16 million Easter eggs, has linked up with Fakenham High School and will be offering two post-A level students apprenticeships starting this summer.

One of Fakenham's biggest employers is to launch a new apprenticeship scheme later this year which could create managers of the future.

Confectionery manufacturer Kinnerton's, currently in its busiest production time in the run-up to Easter by which time it will have produced more than 16 million Easter eggs, has linked up with Fakenham High School and will be offering two post-A level students apprenticeships starting this summer.

It is the first time the company has offered such posts for 18-year-olds, although it has previously offered solely engineering apprenticeships, and over more than two years the two successful candidates taken on by the firm will get experience of working in eight areas of the company including product development, logistics and food technology and development.

Managing director Richard Reilly said the idea offering the apprenticeships has been under consideration for some time and it had now been decided to carry the idea forward and make a start this year.

“We are looking to recruit two Fakenham High School students who have been successful in their A levels but who, for various reasons, do not want to go on to university but want to become trained for a career in their local area. We will take these young people on but have a duty of care towards them,” said Mr Reilly.

He explained that the scheme would be mutually beneficial because the candidates could start to build their careers while still living locally and the firm would get bright young talent who can grow within the company and could become management of the future.

Mr Reilly said that because Kinnerton's are always known as the “chocolate factory” the public perception tends to be one of shop floor production rather than the various other more specialised areas of food manufacturing.

Mr Reilly said the production for Easter eggs started last October and would continue through to March when more than 16 million eggs of varying size up to the biggest, an Easter bunny weighing one-and-a-half kilos, would come off the production lines. They are produced for Kinnerton's own label but for other customers, including Marks and Spencer and Sainsbury's.