Tesco has partnered with 48 suppliers to offer 200 apprenticeships in courses ranging from plumbing to structural engineering.

The retailer will foot half the bill for apprentices' training costs during The Property Apprenticeship scheme, which offers courses of between one and four years and is aimed at those hoping to pursue a career in property. The other half of the funding will be provided by the government or the supplier employer.

Apprentices will be invited to attend four team-building days at Tesco each year and will be employed by the supplier during their training with a view to full time work with that supplier at the end.

Among the current intake is 18-year-old Jordan Callaghan who has secured an apprenticeship with construction, engineering and development group Bowmer and Kirkland.

He had already been working on a number of Tesco office and store projects across the UK, said the retailer, most recently at the Tesco Bank HQ in Edinburgh.

"It is great to see so many apprentices taking up the opportunity and moving towards their goal of working in the property industry," said project manager Michelle Collins.