As we near the end of National Apprenticeship Week 2026, day five brings us Celebration Friday. A perfect opportunity for us to showcase and recognise the incredible journeys apprentices take here at MGF. Apprenticeships have always played a key role in our business, and we’re proud to see so many of our people develop their skills, build their confidence and progress within the company.
To mark the day, we caught up with a group of former MGF apprentices who have since stepped up into managerial roles. Their stories represent just some of the many pathways apprenticeships can lead to, and highlight the long term opportunities that come from learning, developing and being supported from day one at MGF.
“In my second year with MGF, I completed my apprenticeship in procurement and supply, and I believe it gave me the confidence boost I needed to succeed and advance in my position. It helped me advance from a graduate to my current position as Procurement Manager. Essentially by giving me a strong foundation of knowledge when I entered the procurement industry with little experience. It also helped me grow personally in terms of time management and overcoming new obstacles within a professional environment. Apprenticeships are a perfect way to “learn on the job”, and most of all I’m glad I’ve got another qualification under my belt to carry through the rest of my career.”
“Having worked in engineering for several years as a technician, the degree apprenticeship allowed me to continue working while attending university on a part-time basis with the support of MGF. The apprenticeship gave me the opportunity to step outside my engineering comfort zone and branch into different engineering disciplines that I would not usually be involved in.
Being taught across a range of engineering backgrounds allowed me to develop transferable skills, which I was able to bring back into my own working environment. Through the knowledge and experience gained, I became a dependable member of the MGF engineering team, progressing from Graduate Engineer to Engineering Team Leader.
Following my degree apprenticeship, I completed my End Point Assessment with the ICE and achieved Incorporated Engineer status (IEng MICE). With my completed degree and IEng qualification, I have now set my sights on continuing to develop my engineering knowledge on the path to Chartered status with the ICE, while also taking on increased responsibility at MGF.
I believe an apprenticeship is one of the best routes into engineering. Being able to work within the industry while gaining qualifications provides a more well-rounded experience, combining theoretical knowledge with practical application.”
“Completing my Level 3 CIPD apprenticeship in 2019 was the starting point of my professional development, giving me the core foundations and confidence to grow within MGF. Building on this, my Level 5 CIPD apprenticeship in 2021 allowed me to deepen my expertise and take on more strategic responsibilities, ultimately supporting my progression into a management role.
Over my 8 years at MGF, the apprenticeship pathway has been central to my career journey, helping me develop the skills, experience, and mindset needed to now oversee the People Operations department, which manages our HR and L&D systems and processes. I’m continuing my development through the CIPD Level 7 qualification, and the apprenticeship route has been instrumental in shaping the professional I am today.”
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