Investment Operations Apprentice Review

My role sits within the Internal Client Reporting team, within the Investment Operations department. On a day to day basis my role is split between ad-hoc requests and regular morning and afternoon tasks. I monitor swift payments and manually key in internal and external cash movements and escalate any issues via the telephone or via email. I also improve procedures and create new ones when a task has been updated. My team act as the middle man within the company, therefore I liaise with Front and Back office departments, Finance and overseas offices to carry out my day to day activities.

This Apprenticeship has definitely improved my IT skills, especially when using Excel, as most of my daily tasks use this programme. My communication skills have been developed through regularly communicating over email and sometimes having to resolve queries over the phone. This as a result has improved my confidence. Working within a team has enhanced by team work skills too, as my daily role involves collaborating with my team when deciding who is to pick up what tasks or if anybody needs help with certain tasks.

I absolutely love my programme. The Apprenticeship scheme that M&G provides allows me to gain an insight into the Financial Services Industry by taking 3 exams throughout the course of my Apprenticeship. I am able to go to many Investment 20/20 events where I can network with other like minded individuals and grasp a greater understanding of the industry an what opportunities are available to me.

My Apprenticeship programme is highly structured. Since day one I was advised on what the Apprenticeship programme offers and assigned a training provider and coach who helps me though the programme with my revision, exams and on-going portfolio work. Many events within the company, as well as outside are available to me, which shows the organisation of the Long Term Talent team at M&G.

My employer is very supportive. Everyone in my team has supported me since the day I started at M&G, helping me through my daily tasks and making sure I feel comfortable in all what I do. My Apprentice coach is also supportive helping me with any queries I have regarding my revision and portfolio work.

I receive a lot of help from my training provider. We have monthly meetings where we go through current portfolio work and together we work through any queries I have. Two revision workshops have also been set up to give guidance and help towards our exams, which indicates the on-going support from my training provider.

Seeing as I have only taken one out of the three exams within the Apprenticeship scheme so far I have already learnt so much, which I am able to apply to my daily role. The knowledge I have gained already, enables me to feel more confident when completing my daily tasks and I am now able to pick up queries more independently and get involved in team conversations, due to me having a better understanding of the Financial Services terminology that is being used.

M&G has a link with Investment 20/20 (an organisation who actually promote Apprenticeships on their web page), therefore they provide various events which I can register for, as well as social events where I am able to network with other individuals within the industry. These events allow be to view the bigger opportunities available to me after my Apprenticeship. Regularly M&G have insight events and networking lunches where as an Apprentice I can go along and answer any questions people have about the Apprenticeship scheme and M&G as a whole.

Yes

M&G is such a profound company and I am privileged to have been offered an Apprenticeship here. Not just my team, but the company as a whole is very supportive and its a welcoming and friendly place to work. The work is challenging, but that is expected when you are learning something completely new. M&G appreciates the social aspect of work, however when we are busy and tasks need to be completed everyone is completely focused on the tasks at hand and everyone is their to offer support when its needed. All in all, its a really fun place to work and I would recommend any friend to sign up to the Apprenticeship programme!

Make sure you really research the company in full detail, as if you are lucky enough to get through to the face to face interview stage dropping facts into the conversation about the company shows you are committed individual and passionate about the job role. Be yourself! like any interview the employer wants to see what you are really like as a person and where you would fit into their team.