Essential Community Banker. Review

My job title is an Essential community banker. I started my apprenticeship as a level 2 with Barclays and have not moved onto a level 3 apprenticeship. My day to day role is to help customers, providing customer service to customers and process the daily banking. I aso maintain the machines which we have in branch and can go between customers and specialists if customers require me to.

I have already gained my level 2 NVQ in providing financial services, I have now graduated from that and have moved onto my level 3 in certificate in retail banking conduct of business. The new skills and skills which i am continually developing are how to maintain machines which are needed within a bank as well as providing customers with customer service whilst the banking systems are continually changing, I expect my skills to develop further as needs are changing.

I enjoy the programme as it has given me further training than some members of staff within the branch has, meaning I am able to develop my skills and show that I am able to help others with the training I am provided with, helping new colleagues when they join the bank and work within the team, meaning I am preparing myself to get in a position where I can move up grades and hopefully gain a promotion.

I feel extremely valued as a employee as I have regular 1.2.1's where i discuss my development and what has gone well or hasn't over the past 6 weeks. My first year at Barclays meant that I was able to get myself Two outstanding rations in my PD. I have also been given recognition in writing from the area manager and customers which is documented in my 1.2.1 files.

At first, after my induction the organisation around my apprenticeship was not very well laid out as the branch had never had an apprenticeship before and I feel the managers did not know how to manage it. I expressed my concerns and asked my apprenticeship leader to help, and after with discussions with the manager, provisions were put in place where I was able to organise myself with allotted time from work to do my studies. I have meetings with my apprenticeship leader every 6 weeks but [This section of the comment has been removed by a member of the RateMyApprenticeship Team because it did not meet our site terms and conditions] is also available on the phone when ever I message her or via email.

My training provider has been fully supportive in anything that I have done over my career at Barclays. She is available via email or telephone and is always willing to offer help or guidance if i have needed it. [This section of the comment has been removed by a member of the RateMyApprenticeship Team because it did not meet our site terms and conditions] has always been fully supportive and has continually been my rock throughout my work and has been more than what is expected from a mentor during my apprenticeship. I feel I have more of a friend as well as a training provider.

The Branch that I work in did not have an apprentice before so they were unsure as to what support I needed, I did have to ask for the support and sometimes felt like my apprenticeship work was a inconvenience for them. I had to ask the manager often for more support and time towards my apprenticeship which was eventually given. Although sometimes I feel I am self managing my apprenticeship a lot as I often ask for my apprenticeship time and also have to ask for any support as no one ever asks how the apprenticeship is going. Barclays does have a mysite for apprentices but it doesn't seem to be used often.

Costs for my living and travel is more than enough covered with my salary and daily costs are minimal. The travel into Chester is not too long for me although sometimes when I have worked in other branches due to request I have not received the milage costs which we are supposed to earn back. The salary is adequate and we do get bonuses for our work quarterly as long as the bank is in profit. We are lucky as in our branch, parking is provided meaning we have no parking costs.

Opportunities outside of work has not come up so often, although Barclays does support any community activities and charitable activities, offering a like for like donation to anything you raise for a chosen charity. There are out of our meetings sometimes which can help us improve on certain skills, such as toolbox training classes. In the branch where I am, we have had an automated change, so unwanted overtime meant that I was often in late from work and struggled to do any activities away from work. Although this is improving and I spent a lot of my time around family and friends, studying and volunteering at a dogs home.

Yes

I would recommend Barclays to a friend as a business and employer because they do try to support you with your training and do offer a competitive salary compared to other companies. Barclays is a very welcoming business where you are able to grow your skills and Barclays do offer a lot of training where you can thrive and develop your skills as well as new job opportunities.

When applying, be as clear as possible as you want to show the company who you are, how professional you can be and what you can offer. During the interview, ensure you have prepared yourself before hand, looking up Barclays as a business, their history and current news around the company. Barclays like to be the leading bank in the industry so try to speak about any of their success. Be prepared for a lengthy wait with the onboarding process as it can take over a month without any contact from the business! I would have liked to have been given updates during this time as sometimes I did wonder if I still had the job or not! Although, once given a starting date, I was given enough information about my role and felt ready for my first day.