The UK's first watchmaking apprentices in a generation should be training by the end of the year after a business in the county helped secure government funding for the scheme.

Industry leaders have spent three years developing what will be a one to two-year apprenticeship course, which will be eligible for the maximum £27,000 grant to help pay for training providers, assessors and to incentivise employers.

Matt Bowling, a director at Watchfinder, a pre-owned luxury watch retailer based in Maidstone, has been a key member of the team developing the course under the government's trailblazer partnership, which sees industry professionals design training.

He had concerns the apprenticeships would not be supported by employers when the government first indicated their proposals would only receive £9,000 of support.

Yet in January, it was announced this would rise to £27,000, with another £2,000 available if the apprentice is aged 16-18 or comes from local authority care.

Mr Bowling, who co-founded the company in 2002, said: "We are trying to make sure that in 50 years there is not a shortage of watchmakers in the UK and that's why the major manufacturers support this.

"It's generating a lot of interest in the industry. Ultimately it's great there will be more training opportunities.

"I would be disappointed if the first apprentices aren't training by the end of the year."

The luxury watch market is worth £1 billion in the UK each year and Mr Bowling thinks the pre-owned market is worth "at least as much".

Yet there are few training opportunities for people interested in entering the industry, apart from courses with the British School of Watchmaking in Manchester and a horology degree at Birmingham City University.

Mr Bowling aims to take on two apprentices at Watchfinder once the watchmaking course is formally launched, with potential to hire more as the business grows.

Although a training provider has not yet been appointed for the courses, he hopes it can be made a City and Guilds qualification and is in talks with the body.

He said: "There is a desperate shortage of watchmakers.

"The reason I wanted to get into this is because there is a shortage of training opportunities.

"If you are a good watchmaker you will always find employment and it's well paid."