Hi,
How valuable is an MBA these days? I work for the NHS and we've been offered training, either professional courses directly related to our roles or an MBA.

Looking at our senior management team, a very small number have MBAs, about half have a degree or equivalent professional qualification. A large number of our senior managers have no formal qualifications.

I'm in my late 30's and I've never heard any manager or recruiter say an MBA would make me more employable. I'm trying to look forward 5 years and assess the value of an MBA, but I'm struggling. What am I missing?

Thanks
Jay

An MBA will.make you a better manager and will give you options outside the NHS. 

[quote]Looking at our senior management team, a very small number have MBAs, about half have a degree or equivalent professional qualification. A large number of our senior managers have no formal qualifications.[/quote]<br>I would say that outside industries like finance and consulting, this is generally true for many managers. It's usually not a requirement to have an MBA, but an MBA can be helpful in many industries.&nbsp;<br><br>Beyond the value of the knowledge, probably the biggest benefit from an MBA is the network and opportunities it opens up. Ranked business schools are connected with industries and companies that need MBAs and where MBAs want to work. In that sense they serve as a pipeline for talent into many firms, and the best schools serve this purpose remarkably well.<br><br>As for your own career goals, you need to decide whether an MBA fits. Maybe you don't need one, or maybe it can add value to your profile in the NHS. But fundamentally Duncan's comment is spot on: doing an MBA at a world-class institution will widen your opportunities substantially.&nbsp;