The pair have been enrolled at Middlesbrough Environment City during National Apprenticeship Week.
Adam Wood and Nathan Thomas were given the opportunity through the Big Lottery-funded Talent Match Middlesbrough project after being unemployed for more than a year.
They will now complete an apprenticeship in Work Based Horticulture with MEC and will attend Houghall College in Durham once a week.
Talent Match Middlesbrough aims to engage, inspire and support young people aged 18 to 24 from the most deprived wards in Middlesbrough.
Middlesbrough Environment City are also launching their new One Planet Pioneers programme funded through Big Lottery which will empower disadvantaged young people aged 14 to 21 through engagement in environmental action using volunteering, training and apprenticeships.
Councillor Julia Rostron, chair of Middlesbrough Environment City, said: “Apprenticeships play a vital role in preparing young people for the world of work, and equipping them with skills and experience that will stand them in good stead for the future.
“This project is a fantastic way of engaging young people whilst broadening their own skills, experiences and life chances.”