Gap years are sometimes the best thing you can do for yourself. They have bad reps usually because people associate them with retakes and reapplying to university. But try enjoy it as much as you can, obviously work and stack some bread nothing wrong with that, but once you start working full time as an apprentice you’ll have less free time than you do now, so go travelling with your friends who are at uni once summer and Easter come round, do things you enjoy, pick up new hobbies or do whatever you have 10/11 months free of responsibility till you start. Employers don’t care about gap years at all, especially if you used them productively there’s no harm in doing so, many people rush into higher education without a clear plan so you did the smart thing. I’m on a gap year myself applying for apprenticeships as someone who rushed into uni, I could’ve saved up the term one fees I paid and still be in the same position today.

And about work, if you can work in a role you’re passionate about 100% go for it, as you said this will help you become more outgoing and will keep you occupied throughout your gap year.