JCB will spend £3.5m on it Young Talent programme from September as either graduates, sponsored undergraduates or apprentices sign up.

Triplets Jack, Katie and Liam Rowe started apprenticeships at JCB – working not only at the same factory, JCB Heavy Products in Uttoxeter, Staffordshire – but all training to be welders.

Miles Pixley, JCB’s HR manager for technical excellence and core skills, said: “Developing young people is vital to the future of a global business like JCB and the amount being invested this year demonstrates just how serious we are about recruitment in this sector.

“We are implementing our ‘Young Talent’ programme against a back-drop of success with our existing graduate recruitment programmes which have enjoyed 100% retention over the past five years.

“The 103 new apprentices, graduates and undergraduates who join us later in 2012 are the future lifeblood of JCB and will build us into an even stronger company in the future.”

Graduate training programmes will focus on developing expertise in powertrains, manufacturing, engineering, business and finance.

As part of the Young Talent initiative JCB is more than doubling the number of apprenticeships it offers in the UK in 2012 as well as launching a brand new Higher Apprenticeship Scheme in September with the opportunity to study to degree level.

Among the skills being developed are mechanical and electrical maintenance; tool making and welding and fabricating.

Apprentice quality engineers and fitters will also be recruited. In addition JCB will offer internships to another 27 young people during 2012.