Apprentices with a luxury car maker are being sent to college to make sure they have the latest training in how to produce electric cars.

Bentley Motors, based in Crewe, Cheshire, was planning to go fully electric by 2030 but in 2024 pushed that ambition back by five years.

The firm has now picked City of Wolverhampton College to run a three-year apprenticeship for its staff at their Wellington Road campus in Bilston.

The first group of nine will start the course last this month with another nine from April.

The apprentices will combine their work for the car firm with studying and that will include training in electrical systems and their maintenance, a college spokesperson said.

Daniel Degg, from the Wolverhampton college, said they were thrilled to have been chosen by Bentley to run the training.

“We look forward to working closely with Bentley to expand training and development opportunities,” he added.

Four more Bentley staff will also be given an apprenticeship at one of the college’s other sites, in Telford, Shropshire, in how to use polymers and improve Bentley’s use of them.