NORTH Yorkshire college has won approval as one of the best in the country when it comes to recruiting and supervising modern apprentices.

The training and learning department at Northallerton College was examined by a team from the Adult Learning Inspectorate.

They found it was one of the best in the country, ranking in the top seven per cent nationally.

Manager Dr Graham Best said yesterday: "We have more than 100 modern apprentices and every one has got a proper job, is paid proper wages and gets time off to attend college."

The college offers work-based learning in more than a dozen areas, ranging from plumbing and electrical installation to food and drink manufacturing and customer service.

The inspection team also picked out two areas of good practice that the college initiated.

One is a system of spotting students in danger of dropping out for personal, economic or other reasons and giving them extra support.

The other was the way the department produces learner material for students employed in drink and food manufacturing.

"In an ever-changing and challenging environment, this is an encouraging report which provides a stable base for other departments," said college principal Jennifer Slater.