Award-winning garden designer Chris Myers is “nurturing” an apprentice.

Having being accepted as a presenter for the Channel 4 programme Wild Things, Chris needed an extra pair of hands to cope with his expanding garden business.

But he was concerned that employing someone full-time may have a negative effect on the business’s stability, so instead he decided to take on an apprentice.

Speaking during National Apprenticeship Week, he said: “This was the right solution for me because it was not only a cost-effective way of employing someone, but I could also train them up to do things my way.”

He was helped by Craven College, who pre-interviewed candidates and provided feedback.

“Taking on an apprentice has benefited my business,” said Chris who won a gold medal and best in show award at Gardeners World Live 2011. “Now I have a skilled member of staff, Adam Falshaw, who understands the ‘Chris Myers’ way of doing things.”

Before being taken on, Adam was on the dole after being made redundant.

He said: “I have learnt a lot of stuff I have never done before like using and driving different machinery and getting qualified in dry stone walling. If I hadn’t done the apprenticeship I would not have had the opportunity to do all that.”