CREWE luxury car maker Bentley Motors has welcomed its largest ever intake of apprentices

The new hires - along with undergraduates and graduates - number 112 and are joining the 4,000-strong Crewe-based workforce at a time when the company says it is delivering "its biggest transformational programme in its 102-year history".

In a phased introduction, 39 apprentices and 39 undergraduates have started their Bentley careers in the past two weeks, with 14 graduates to follow next month.

The new recruits will work across the business, including engineering, production, marketing and communications, project management, HR and Digital and IT.

Bentley hired 20 apprentices earlier this year.

Bentley's Head of People, Engagement and Transformation Nicola Johnson said: "Bentley, and the entire automotive industry, is changing faster than ever and so recruiting the next generation and leaders of tomorrow with a digital mind-set is a key part of our strategy to becoming the leader in sustainable luxury mobility."

Bentley outlined its targets when it launched the Beyond100 strategy last year with the aim to make the firm carbon neutral and move to full electrification through the entire model range by 2030.