Entrepreneur Development Apprentice Review

I am an Entrepreneur Development Apprentice and have been a part of the NatWest Entrepreneurship Team since May 2017 I provide support to the Birmingham and Milton Keynes Entrepreneurial Spark powered by NatWest hub, where I oversee events management and help maintain relationships with mentors, NatWest staff and the wider ecosystem of support for entrepreneurs

I have continuously developed and learnt new skills. I have been given opportunities to go on accredited courses such as the Entrepreneur Development Academy and Women in Business - I have been able to implement my learning not just in my work life but in my personal life. Because of the team I am in, I am developing new skills everyday because being outside my comfort-zone, my biggest skills I have learnt are pitching, networking and presenting. I am so far outside my comfort zone but I'm comfortable with that and I love it

I am thoroughly enjoying my programme. I haven't worked since the day I started working here because I love what I do. I have the best team which consist of vibrant, bold characters who treat each other like family, we look out for each other, celebrate every ones successes and encourage the development of everyone. In my previous job, we didn't have a community or a good team, being as it was my first job, I didn't have high expectations but the team spirit has gone above and beyond my expectations, I have came it and have not stopped enjoying my time here.

I feel like an incredibly valued individual at RBS. I have been given opportunities to use my skills and experience to teach and educate other people through things such as workplace, employee led networks and moneysense. I have been involved with setting up the Birmingham Enable Disability hub which is a great experience to help other people who may not understand additional needs or who have additional needs and want more help. I don't think the bank does not offer any support that I need. I feel like I am making a difference to other people with recognition that I receive in my team and feedback I get from other people who are not in my team.

My programme is very good. My team created a apprenticeship journey for me to work along with my apprenticeship work, this included projects, placements and objectives. I found this really useful as it went well with my apprenticeship work. I have been offered different accredited programmes and opportunities to understand where I can go next and what other programmes and opportunities I can be taking which I have found very valuable.

I am not very impressed with my training provider. I have had a number of issues with BPP which caused more problems than needed and have affected my apprenticeship work. An example of this is where I didn't have access to SmartScreen, I asked for my log in details for this but they were adamant that I have got them so I didn't receive them for a while, I had been sent I circles speaking to my tutor who referred me to speak to BPP and they told me to speak to City and Guilds who then told me to speak to my assessor. Eventually I received my log in details and was able to get more revision resources. The reception staff in BPP on Colmore Row do not seem very welcoming whenever I came to do exams. My tutor on the other hand is great, currently she is on annual leave. I was told my temporary tutor would be in contact with me. I received no contact so I had to run BPP up about this, this tutor then gave me the wrong information on what my next workbook should be.

I have receive a lot of support from my employer. My line manager has supported me in all aspects of my job - my personal and professional development, my health and wellbeing and my apprenticeship work. I feel comfortable to talk to my line manager knowing I will get support from him. I have 3-4 mentors who I found to help me develop in areas which I need improvement in and they have been incredible giving me advice and support by highlighting possibilities for me, giving me actions and giving me opportunities. The bank provide different networks which I use, they put on a number of events which I have used and found very valuable and they have a support line called life matters which I have used and I am grateful for as this really helped me.

RBS salary is incredible generous for an apprenticeship scheme. It covers all my costs leaving money at the end of each month. I think the only negative about the pay is that I work closely with graduates whom receive pay rises. Apprentices are not entitled to this.

I have not seen many outside of work activities however, I do a lot of networking outside of work hours for work, I enjoy this very much as its outside my comfort zone but its something I haven't thought of doing in other situations. I am a cub leader and the bank has really supported this, I was told about a scheme the bank offers where they donate money to groups. I applied for this and my scout group received a donation from the bank.

Yes

I have thoroughly enjoyed doing my apprenticeship with the bank. I have been given support all the way through my apprenticeship, been supported in regards to health and wellbeing and my professional development is continuously improved.

The application process was really easy, I sent off my application and had then got a telephone interview and completed a test. I was then offered a face to face interview. If you want to work in a supportive environment then you will definitely get that working with RBS.