Over the last academic year, a total of 349,190 people enrolled on an apprenticeship programme, and the numbers are rising each year. Not only that but there are now so many different apprenticeships on offer, from hospitality to retail management and HR to IT. This makes it even easier to find a programme that ticks all the boxes and opens the right doors.

More options can make it even harder to make a decision. We understand it's an important decision to make. You want to be sure that it's the right move for you, so we're going to help.

Here are five questions to ask yourself if you're thinking about an apprenticeship.

1. Is an apprenticeship right for me? 

Before you even begin looking for apprenticeship schemes, you've got to ask yourself if an apprenticeship is right for you.

Say that you don’t pass your English or maths GCSE. Through an apprenticeship, you can continue to study for these key GCSE's. On the other hand, you might have finished your GCSEs and be turning your attention to an apprenticeship. Either way, an apprenticeship is a good option to continue your learning whilst picking up a paycheck. Plus, if you pick the right company, you have access to apprenticeships at every level, and could end up with the equivalent of a degree. That’s precisely what you’ll get at M&B.

On the other hand, you might have finished school a while back and jumped straight into work, but now you've got that niggle in the back of your mind telling you that you want to try something different. Whether that's extra skills, responsibility, opportunities or pay, you can get all that and more. You are truly never too old to do an apprenticeship.

2. Does it make sense financially?

If you're yet to dip your toes into the working world, there are a few paths available. Apprenticeships are just one. But one thing that attracts many people to an apprenticeship over, say, university is the lack of tuition fees. You won't finish up owing anything.

Now, let's say you have a stable job with a steady income, and learning comes at a cost, right? Wrong. The beauty of an apprenticeship is that you earn a competitive salary and build your skillset in the meantime.

Simply put, it pays to do an apprenticeship.

3. Will it suit my learning style? 

We all learn in different ways, and around 15% of people learn by doing. These people, known as kinesthetic learners, suit apprenticeships pretty well because about 80% of your working hours will be spent doing the job. The remaining 20% is spent training or studying, helping you cement that knowledge.

That's not to say if you don't fit snugly in the kinesthetic learner box you won't suit an apprenticeship. Just start by asking yourself how you like to learn. And if you understand something better and faster when you practice it, you might be on to a winner here.

4. What skills do I want to finish up with?

Remember, it's not just about the certificate. Take our chef apprentices, for example. They don't just learn how to prepare and cook food. They get to observe chefs, learn the tricks of the trade from them and put it all into practice with the guidance of their supervisor. This all helps them become more confident chefs. Write a list of skills you want to develop and seek a programme that will offer you just that.

5. What job can I see myself doing next?

If you have an idea about the direction you want your career to head in, happy days. Just compare the experience you'll gain throughout the apprenticeship with the skills you want for your future job.

For many of us, getting asked what we want to do in five years is the dreaded question. We don't all know, and that's okay. You get a different level of support during an apprenticeship, and at M&B, for example, you get access to award-winning training, delivered by tutors with years of industry experience. Every stage is carefully designed to give you the skills and experience to start your career and will help you understand what roles are up for grabs once you finish.

Give yourself a head start in your career

At M&B, we've been running apprenticeship programmes since 2016, and around 4,000 people have completed a programme with us in this time. You'll have the chance to gain essential hospitality skills, whether that be in our kitchens or front of house. At one of our many famous brands, in a venue local to you. Does it get any better than that?

Plus, you'll get access to a long list of benefits, including a discount on gym memberships, deals and discounts from your favourite retailers, and a 33% discount on food and drink at any of our 1,600 businesses, such as Harvester, Toby Carvery and All Bar One.

Our apprenticeship programmes are open year round. Head to our apprenticeship hub to find out more and get your application started.