Wealth Management Apprentice Review

I am an apprentice within Wealth Management currently working towards being a Client Advisor Assistant (CAA). My current job roles are carrying out meeting preparation pack and any updates to details or accounts for clients. This is what I do day to day. Other jobs may include doing background checks on people or institutions and raising any issues with the appropriate parties. Meeting preparation consists of getting together statements of a clients accounts and putting it all into a pack which a Client Advisor (CA) can take into the respective meeting to use. We are always liaising with assistants and advisors in order to ensure all paperwork is up to standard.

I am currently studying towards my IOC Level 3 with the view of progressing onto the Level 4 (post apprenticeship). UBS use the as the foundation of an apprentice's knowledge and it is the minimum requirement needed in order to carry out the work we will be going on to do. As part of the apprenticeship, a learning/training provider is allocated who works with you to guide you through studies and any coursework which may be necessary. They put on training days and quarterly review catch ups to ensure you are progressing in a way which you are happy with, and if there are any issues, they are there to help. There is also Mandatory training which we get through in the form of emails which is related to a variety of topics, such as business specific or even safety online.

I work in a team of 5 fellow apprentices and service a floor of assistants and advisors. I enjoy the fact that, although you are doing the same job most days of the week, you have the opportunity to work for different people and get to know everyone in the team. UBS as a whole put a lot of work into making sure you are settled and work with you where necessary to ensure you can do the work set in the most efficient way. The company culture is clear for all to see and is engraved within you from the first day to give you an understanding of just how important these are to the firm to ensure that clients - and stakeholders - get the best possible experience. I had very low expectations regarding valued I would be as an apprentice within such a large firm, however my expectations have been exceeded and I feel like I am an integral part of the team.

I had very low expectations regarding valued I would be as an apprentice within such a large firm, however my expectations have been exceeded and I feel like I am an integral part of the team. My line manager meets with me once a month and the team of apprentices fortnightly to check how we feel within the office and also if we are struggling in any area. We have been told how the team as a whole views us apprentices and what the head of the department envisages for the future, with apprentices as a whole the core to future progression. Virtually all work funnels through us and this makes you integral from the outset.

For the first 3 days of the apprenticeship we were sat down in a room learning about the different departments within the bank and how we would be progressing over the course of time. For the two days afterwards we were taken to meet out team and the people who we would initially be working closest with. Then commenced two weeks of solely business related training and meeting different people from different areas who we would be liaising with should any issues arise. During the first two months on desk, we worked with the previous intake of apprentices who taught us everything we would need to know to do day-to-day jobs. Regarding exams, our learning provider comes in once a month to talk us through the different chapters and how to approach the exams - and the best approach to take in order to pass. As aforementioned mentioned, I meet regularly with my line manager and have two reviews a year to make sure I am meeting my targets for the year. I firmly believe that the program is structured well.

Regarding training, some of it we just have to do and is very self explanatory in what it is for. Regarding exams, the learning/training provider comes into the office and runs a day (or sometimes two day) course which covers the content which we need to know in order to succeed and progress onto the next phase. Furthermore, we are given an online login to order to get access to a bank of questions and tutor videos which have been recorded with a live class for us to follow which helps us with revision. Furthermore, we get a lot of material which we can use throughout which explains the different elements in depth. We are also given an email to contact should we have an issues regarding exams and then my line manager often sits with us should we have an issue.

My line manager often sits with us day-to-day should we have an issue with a piece of work or just need to have a conversation regarding workload. They are very supportive of us and they give notice when we have a training day to reduce the chances of an issue arising where a piece of work is not done because we are not present. I have both a coach and a mentor. My coach is someone who in a year into their apprenticeship who helps me day-to-day if I need any help and then my mentor is someone who works in a separate part of the bank who I meet with on occasions. UBS work it that way in, so that you can have someone who can tell you of different opportunities within the bank and how work varies in different team. All conversations are confidential and you build up a trust quickly as we are all working towards a common goal.

For me, I live in London, am based in London and am eligible for a discounted rate on travel because of my location and position. The salary as a whole covers all costs I have and is not an issue. Being based in Central London, there are multiple places to eat within a 5 minute walk with a variety of both food and price ranges, this helps to limit amount spent where necessary. It is a competitive salary for the area and firms who offer similar schemes to the one I am on.

There are many in house events and many client events which are opened up to you in order for you to see what is around as a result of working for such a big firm. There are also a lot of events which you can sign up for as part of the apprenticeship and this to aid development with things like public speaking and personal development. These include going into schools and promoting the apprenticeship as a whole and then talking to students about experiences we have had.

Yes

Because I believe it is a firm that you should aspire to work for and is a great place to develop as an individual within one of the biggest firms in the industry.

Prepare well and don't try too hard, be yourself and let your personality come across.