Step up your career: How a corporate apprenticeship at M&B can open new doors

When you hear the word apprenticeship, do you picture someone fresh out of school learning a trade? It’s time to rethink that. At M&B, our corporate apprenticeships aren’t just for school leavers, they’re for anyone who’s ready to grow.

Whether you’re a manager wanting to sharpen your leadership skills, a data enthusiast eager to take things up a notch, an HR pro looking to deepen your expertise, or simply someone hungry for career growth, our corporate apprenticeship programmes are designed to support your next step.

Real people. Real growth. Real results.

Let’s talk about Phil Sharp, our Kitchen Training Development Manager. After more than 20 years with M&B, Phil decided it was time to invest in his own development.

“I never really had any formal qualifications in hospitality,” he explains. “The apprenticeship gave me the chance to reflect, grow, and explore what else I could do.”

For Phil, it wasn’t just about workplace training; it was about boosting his confidence, developing new skills, and opening doors to exciting opportunities within the business. 

Or take Matt Hawkswood, one of our Retail Capability Partners. He signed up for a Coaching Professional Apprenticeship to enhance his leadership skills.

“I thought it would be loads of extra work and heavy theory,” he admits, “but it improved my time management. Finishing the course gave me such a buzz, I still feel proud of what I achieved.”

Think corporate apprenticeships aren’t for you? Think again.

The biggest myth? That apprenticeships are only for those just starting out. Spoiler alert: they’re not.

Lauren Pickering, our Lead Recruitment Marketing Manager, had a university degree but no formal HR qualifications. Thanks to a corporate apprenticeship, that changed.

“It gave me the chance to specialise and build connections with professionals across different industries,” she says.

And what about balancing work and study? Loads of our apprentices say the structure of the programme made it not only manageable, but genuinely energising.

Learning that fits around you

Our corporate apprenticeships are built to enhance your role, not overload your schedule. Just ask Dale Fenton, Energy Project Manager. His Quality Improvement Technician Apprenticeship slotted seamlessly into his day-to-day.

“It wasn’t like taking on a whole new project, it just improved what I was already doing,” he explains.

The same goes for Jess Birch, our Evaluation & Performance Manager.

“The structure made it easy to balance learning with work,” Jess says. “And the skills I’ve picked up have opened doors to more technical roles within M&B. I even built a tracker to stay on top of my learning hours, happy to share it if you’re interested!”

The power of a corporate apprenticeship

Want to deepen your expertise? Try something new? Future-proof your career? There’s a corporate apprenticeship for that.

Louise Cooper, Internal Comms Coordinator, used her People Professional Apprenticeship to boost her HR knowledge and confidence.

“It’s given me skills that directly support my career growth,” she shares.

And for Dave Thompson, Operational Excellence Manager, his journey is only just beginning.

“I want to dive deeper into Six Sigma and process improvement,” he says. “This apprenticeship has opened up a whole new world of opportunity.” 

Ready to take the leap? Hear it from the people who’ve done it

Still on the fence about a corporate apprenticeship? Here’s what our apprentices have to say:

“Just go for it.” – Lauren
“It can only take you places you want to go.” – Matt
“Make sure it aligns with your goals—and dive in.” – Dave
“Stay on track and enjoy the journey.” – Jess

At M&B, we believe learning never stops. Our corporate apprenticeships aren’t just about qualifications, they’re about building confidence, unlocking new career paths, and making work feel more rewarding.

How to get started with a corporate apprenticeship at M&B

Our corporate apprenticeships are available exclusively to existing M&B team members, but if you’re not part of the M&B family yet, no worries! 

We regularly recruit for bar and waiting apprenticeships and chef apprenticeships, an amazing first step into a rewarding hospitality career.

Explore our latest apprenticeship opportunities and unlock your potential today.