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Twelve people in suits stood lined up before an angry old man. He points a finger at one of them. "You're fired," he says, and they stand up and walk out of the boardroomA room where the people who manage a company (the board) meet. .

This is a scene from the British TV show The Apprentice. But experts say actually being an apprentice is very different.

For hundreds of years, young people have learned the skills they need for a job from an older person who has been doing it for many years. They learn while working and might one day take over the business.

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Apprenticeships were very common up until the 1960s and 1970s. Then, more people started going to university to get a degreeA title or qualification given to someone who has finished their studies at university. . Some people say that going to university is better because you learn more subjects and more skills like problem-solving.

But now apprenticeships are becoming more popular again. They can be much cheaper than going to university. And many think that they suit some people a lot more than learning in a classroom. Apprentices learn while working, and gain real-life experience on the job.

Some very rich people started life as apprentices, such as Richard BransonHis businesses have included Virgin Records, Virgin Trains and the space-tourism company Virgin Galactic. and chef Gordon Ramsay.

Yes! An apprenticeship offers the chance to be paid while working and learn outside of the classroom. It is a much better way into some jobs than going to university.

No! Going to university gives you the chance to learn about lots of different things and learn a wide range of skills. It opens the doors to many different jobs, not just one.