The prestige Somerset textiles factory co-owned by entrepreneur Deborah Meaden has appointed two new apprentices, while expressing disappointment over the struggle it took to find 'suitable candidates' locally.

Wellington-based woollen mill Fox Brothers began its search a year ago to recruit a trainee for an apprenticeship scheme it is running in association with leading fashion brand, Jack Wills. It also sought to fill a weaving apprenticeship with prospects for a long-term manufacturing career at its historic Tonedale Mill base.

But managing director Douglas Cordeaux, the former Pepe Jeans creative director who acquired the business with Ms Meaden in 2009, said that despite support from a North of England textiles college, Fox had struggled to get word out of its proposition, locally.

Bridgwater-born Mr Cordeaux, who studied art and textiles design at Somerset College in Taunton before moving onto the Chelsea School of Arts and a high-profile textiles design career, said: "We did the usual things in terms of advertising, as the idea was to get local people involved, who would like to learn a skill.

"It is a very hands-on role, but we are trying to offer a career, rather than a job.

"What we've learned is we will have to be a lot more proactive in going out and engaging with local schools and colleges."

Earlier this month, Fox and Jack Will's search for an apprentice was highlighted at a textiles and fashion industry seminar hosted by the Duke of York at Buckingham Palace.

The seminar was called in response to the firms' difficulty in finding suitable candidates for their new apprenticeship scheme.

Mr Cordeaux said: "Manufacturing in this country will never recover to previous levels – sadly, that time has passed. The focus for government and industry now has to be on preservation; preserving the skill sets necessary if we are to continue producing genuine luxury, niche goods that are 'Made in Britain' and respected around the world.

"In a traditional, but niche, manufacturing business like ours, skills transferal and succession are a constant quandary; in our case probably more so than sales and exports."

Fox Brothers currently exports around 75 per cent of the cloth it weaves, including to leading British labels who manufacture abroad. "The demand for our product is worldwide and we have no issue in selling it," said Mr Cordeaux.

"My issue is in sustaining the skills, that keep it being made here."

Despite its recruitment setbacks, Fox Brothers has just welcomed apprentices Rhys Grant and Robert Kennedy to its 22-strong workforce at its textiles mill, and Mr Cordeaux is delighted.

Mr Grant, 20, was one of three local candidates put forward by Jobcentre Plus, who proved his mettle during a four-weeks, unpaid work experience trial.

He said: "Living locally, I've known about Fox for ages but it wasn't until the local job centre put me forward for work experience that I thought about a career with them. After my apprenticeship I hope to become a permanent part of the team."

Mr Kennedy, 24, is a fashion and textiles graduate, who will be splitting his time and training between Fox Brothers and Jack Wills. He will gain hand-on experience of cloth design and weaving from Fox's chief designer Rosemarie Boon, before moving on to Jack Wills, where he will be based at its London office.

"We are ecstatic to have found them both," said Mr Cordeaux. "And to see them so excited too, makes us realise why we've done it."

Fox has forged strong links and a synergy with fashion phenomenon Jack Wills, the upwardly mobile 'fabulously British' brand aimed at teens and twenty-somethings, which was founded in Salcombe in 1999 and last year generated £92 million sales.

"The fabulous thing about Jack Wills is the specific age group they are targeting," said Mr Cordeaux.

He hopes that Fox's links with Jack Wills and its 'graduate' label, Aubin & Wills will stimulate a lasting appreciation in quality, British-manufactured goods in a generation that will continue in their loyalty for a lifetime, adding:

"There is a big fashion for 'Made in Britain' but I want it to stay, not simply be a fashion."

Fox is already looking ahead to recruiting further apprentices, as Rhys and Robert progress.

It also intends to dispel any "negative, historic," perspective on a career in manufacturing. It plans to introduce local students to its niche production processes, through presentations that shine a light upon its high-profile clients and the creative partnerships that are very much a part of the way that Fox does business.

"It won't take us as long to find apprentices next time – we've learned a lot," said Mr Cordeaux. "But now, we need to get through the elation stage of finding our first."