Mitchells & Butlers Lifetime are celebrating a decade-long partnership that has transformed M&B's approach to talent development, earning the hospitality company major national recognition.
The collaboration, starting in 2015, shifted M&B’s apprenticeship program from "low volume" to a strategic, embedded success, leading to:
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Award wins: M&B became the first hospitality company to win the National Apprenticeship Award in 2019, and the only one to win it a second time in 2023. Their Chef Academy also secured the Princess Royal Award in 2020.
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Top Employer status: in 2025, M&B was recognised as the number one apprenticeship employer by the Department for Education and Rate My Apprenticeship.
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Strong results: the apprenticeship training programmes deliver measurable business benefits: 59% of achievers secure promotions, and the company sees higher engagement, better retention, and improved performance.
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Learner satisfaction: a high-level commitment to support means 96% of learners recommend the program.
The success is attributed to a genuine "one team" approach—not just a client-provider setup—where Lifetime is fully embedded in M&B's structure. Apprenticeships are now "baked into" M&B's talent strategy, focused on building confidence, careers, and driving business results. Both partners are excited to continue shaping the future hospitality workforce.
Over the past 10 years, apprenticeships have changed our business and our business. They've built confidence, they've developed skills, and opened up careers. 59% of our achievers have secured promotions. Engagement is higher, retention is better, and performance is improved.
