An independent publisher has hired its first-ever apprentice journalists after receiving 200 applications for the positions.

Tindle Newspapers has taken on two editorial apprentices in Wales and three in England, as well as unveiling a new digital strategy “to bolster print titles while growing online reach”.

Lauren Meredith and Joe Corrick, the two Wales-based apprentices, are working on the Monmouthshire Beacon and Breckon and Radnor Express respectively while studying at Cardiff and Vale College.

Ethan Heppell, Liam Davies and Scarlett Hills-Brooks will work for Tindle titles in Devon and Cornwall while studying with Darlington College.

Lauren said: “I love being part of Monmouth life.

“I really wanted to join Tindle and the apprenticeship programme as ever since I was little, my dad has coached many of the Monmouth Town football teams so I’ve been brought up being involved with the community.”

Liam added: “I wanted to join the apprenticeship programme with Tindle because, simply, it strikes me as a fantastic and invaluable opportunity.

“I felt automatically drawn to Tindle’s ultra-local journalism ethos; I believe passionately in engaging with the local community to tell the story.”

The company says the move is “part of a fresh focus on employing journalists in the heart of communities”.

Scott Wood, pictured, Tindle group publishing director, said: “We are delighted to welcome our five new apprentice journalists to Tindle Newspapers.

“We truly believe in local and, through enabling Scarlett, Liam, Ethan, Joseph and Lauren to join our group of businesses, we can continue to serve our local communities, remain at the heart of them and develop the next array of talented individuals into journalists of the future.”

Tindle’s HR consultant Tracey Corney, who is running the apprenticeship scheme for the company, added: “We started off asking all the applicants to do the NCTJ test before we interviewed them – and of the people we did see, the quality was great and we could have taken on all of them.

“Our apprentices have already been working on stories, and most have now had their first stories published.”