'What am I going to do after GCSEs?'

It's a big question and no doubt one that you'll have been asked by your teachers, friends and family. It's almost as big as, 'Where do you see yourself in five years?'

It's okay if you don't know where you want to be a few years down the line. In fact, you're not on your own.

But with hundreds of apprenticeships out there, where do you even begin looking? We're here to help you out. Let's walk through why an apprenticeship could be the right option for you, which apprenticeships you can apply for after your GCSEs and hear from some of our apprentices at M&B.

What apprenticeships can you apply to after GCSEs?

Apprenticeships are designed to be accessible to everyone, as long as you're 16 or older and not in full-time education. They start at Level 2, which is equivalent to GCSEs, and go all the way up to Level 7, which is equivalent to a Bachelor’s or master’s degree.

So why would you choose to go down the route of an apprenticeship when you could down the alternative route of A-Levels, then uni and maybe beyond? It all depends on how you like to learn. If you like learning by doing and freeze at the idea of classroom learning, apprenticeships are the perfect way to develop new skills. Similar to any other job, you'll have some shifts throughout the week so you get hands-on experience in the workplace. But unlike a regular job, you'll have time set aside for training and studying towards a qualification. And let's not forget that you'll pick up a paycheck as you learn.

If the idea of an apprenticeship is sounding more appetising by the second, let us walk you through a few of your options.

What different types of apprenticeships are there?

Apprenticeships come in all shapes and sizes, and by that we mean you can find an apprenticeship in pretty much every industry. Supposedly, there are over 600 apprenticeships, so you're bound to find something to your taste.

What apprenticeships do we offer at M&B?

Chef apprenticeships

Our chef apprenticeships are crafted so that you receive on-the-job training in one of our busy kitchens and learn the tricks of the trade from day one. After all, there's no better way to see if you've got what it takes to be a chef than to get stuck right into the work.

And if you've got an appetite for more like Ben, you might find yourself on course to become a Kitchen Manager one day.

Bar and waiting apprenticeships

Meanwhile, the front-of-house apprentices learn all about how to serve up memorable moments for our guests. Whether you fancy learning how to pull pints behind the bar or polish your waiting skills, our bar and waiting apprenticeships will teach you all you need to know.

Ellie said that her hospitality apprenticeship gave her the confidence to believe she could become a general manager by the time she was 25.

Management apprenticeships

Deborah chose a management apprenticeship at M&B because she was eager to build her knowledge and boost her confidence. Our management apprenticeships do just that by teaching you the ins and outs of running a business. Once complete, you're ready to continue your development towards the role of Kitchen Manager or Assistant Manager. Whichever way you choose, you'll have the skills you need to boss it.

Find out more about apprenticeships at M&B

So there you have it, a summary of what apprenticeships are available after your GCSEs and an overview of the programmes we run at M&B. Now we're not ones to brag, but our apprenticeships are known to be award-winning, so you’ll step into a full-time role feeling confident that you have what it takes to smash it.

Visit our apprenticeship hub to find out more about each of our programmes and get the answers to the top questions we hear apprentices asking. Or, find out what it takes to be crowned an Apprentice of the Year at M&B.