From Student Project to Real-World Brand: The Next Step Story

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When MBA Group launched its apprenticeship programme in December 2023, we set out to tackle the industry’s skills gap head-on. Fast forward to 2025, and our apprentices are already driving real change, bringing fresh energy to teams and delivering on major projects. 

But here’s where it gets exciting: one of our own apprentices, Hannah Hall, spotted an opportunity through a university assignment. Her project? A bold new identity for the apprenticeship programme itself. 

The work was so impressive, packed with insight, research, and standout design, that we didn’t just grade it. We brought it to life. Next Step is now our official apprenticeship brand, rolling out across welcome brochures, recruitment materials, and beyond. 

This is how a university assignment became the face of MBA’s talent strategy and proof that great ideas can come from anywhere. 

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The Opportunity  

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Our apprenticeship initiative was built to do more than fill skills gaps. It creates real career pathways into print, tech and creative services. 

Research by our HR Advisor revealed a key insight: a dedicated, youth-friendly brand could transform how we connect with the next generation. Here’s what it could achieve: 

• Attract and inspire 16-25 year olds with a fresh, relevant identity 

• Build pride and belonging among current apprentices 

• Showcase MBA’s commitment to developing talent 

• Bring clarity and consistency to recruitment, onboarding and communication 

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A Brand Built for Apprentices, by an Apprentice  

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Hannah brought something invaluable to the project: she’d lived it. As both designer and apprentice, she understood the journey firsthand in a way no external agency could. 

The brief was simple but ambitious: create a brand that feels fresh and modern, resonates with young talent, and stays true to MBA. That meant everything from naming and logo design to onboarding packs and social media assets. 

But this wasn’t guesswork. Hannah interviewed fellow apprentices, reviewed the current onboarding experience, and studied what’s happening across the apprenticeship landscape. The insights were clear. 

Q: What kind of personality should the brand have: fun, professional, supportive, bold? 
Apprentice: “I believe that the brand should have a mix of all 4 attributes where appropriate. This means that the company should be something that fosters growth while allowing you to be yourself.” 

The result? A brand that feels youthful yet credible, energetic yet grounded. Something apprentices can connect with from day one, designed not just for them, but with them. 

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Creative Exploration 

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Hannah explored multiple naming and design routes, each expressing progress, confidence and opportunity in different ways. Early options included ‘nxt’, ‘Spark’, and ‘Next Step’. 

‘Next Step’ emerged as the clear winner. It felt grounded, accessible and true to MBA’s values while capturing something essential: movement, growth, and that pivotal first step into a meaningful career. 

From there, Hannah developed three visual routes before landing on a final direction that balances youthful energy with professional polish. 

The chosen direction strikes the perfect balance between MBA’s established brand and a fresh, youth-oriented identity. The logo subtly incorporates the triangular motifs used throughout the MBA brand, blending them with a more modern symbol to represent what it stands for. 

“As an apprentice myself, I was able to draw on my own experiences, which gave me a stronger connection to the work and a clearer sense of direction when making creative choices. This sense of connection made the project feel both meaningful and enjoyable. It wasn’t just about creating something that looked good; it was about designing something that spoke directly to people like me. This gave the project an authenticity that I might not have been able to achieve otherwise.”  – Hannah Hall 

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MBA Brings Next Step to Life 

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MBA’s leadership team saw something special in Hannah’s work. What started as a university project was a brand concept ready to become a real asset. 

The decision was made: Next Step would become the official identity for the apprenticeship programme. A rare moment where a student brief transformed into a live brand. 

The first real-world deliverable followed quickly: a physical welcome brochure, designed by Hannah using the identity she’d built from the ground up. 

Perfect timing, too. When MBA held its next Apprentice Assessment Day to find the next wave of talent, we had the ideal piece to put in their hands. 

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You can view and read the full brochure here.

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This is just the beginning for Next Step, but this project represents something bigger: it’s proof of concept for the entire apprenticeship programme. MBA didn’t just hire Hannah to fill a role. We invested in her potential, gave her real responsibility, and watched her deliver work that’s now shaping how we attract and welcome the next generation of talent. 

That’s exactly why we run an apprenticeship programme. To find fresh thinking. To nurture raw talent. To give people the space to grow, contribute, and make their mark from day one. 

A huge thank you to our Digital Design Apprentice, Hannah Hall, for showing us what’s possible when you give apprentices the platform they deserve! 

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