Business Analyst Review

I work in a department called Major Core Programmes on Regulatory projects that affect large swathes of the bank- cutting across many departments, my role is working in Projects as a business analyst, creating maps of processes, analysing the systems within the bank and creating as is and to be processes.

since starting as a BA I have learnt some skills in the use of Visio, (process mapping) and have consolidated skills I already had in excel and word, I have interviewed colleagues regarding a change to process & learnt how to facilitate a workshop which has improved confidence in public speaking.

I enjoy the role but do not find it sufficiently challenging, I have therefore reached out to areas outside of the role to find more stimulation & more interesting tasks. the BA role is not conducive to learning quickly as Projects in Major Core Programmes generally last a long time so there could be long periods doing the same or similar work followed by small periods of new learning / new tasks

Major Core Programmes is part of a larger department called group transformation, Group Transformation has just undergone a protracted period of change which has resulted in a lot of uncertainty and instability in my role and in the roles of others around me- it will reorganise and will probably do so quite well - but currently this appears to be very reactive and with no real plan, also my mentor has left & I do not know who his replacement will be

Employer support is sporadic, there is a certain trust that the employer (Lloyds Banking Group) have in their staff so that I am allowed a certain amount of autonomy as an apprentice to learn & grow, however this can sometimes appear as disinterest, due to the confusion in Group Transformation I don't really have a line manager at the moment which also hinders here

Employer support is sporadic, there is a certain trust that the employer (Lloyds Banking Group) have in their staff so that I am allowed a certain amount of autonomy as an apprentice to learn & grow, however this can sometimes appear as disinterest, due to the confusion in Group Transformation I don't really have a line manager at the moment which also hinders here

Employer support is sporadic, there is a certain trust that the employer (Lloyds Banking Group) have in their staff so that I am allowed a certain amount of autonomy as an apprentice to learn & grow, however this can sometimes appear as disinterest, due to the confusion in Group Transformation I don't really have a line manager at the moment which also hinders here

Employer support is sporadic, there is a certain trust that the employer (Lloyds Banking Group) have in their staff so that I am allowed a certain amount of autonomy as an apprentice to learn & grow, however this can sometimes appear as disinterest, due to the confusion in Group Transformation I don't really have a line manager at the moment which also hinders here

Training Provision has only just started, I have received one induction call & one face to face meeting with a mentor (who has since left that company) he emailed to say he was leaving- but I expected something from the provider to explain next steps, as such although it is early I am not hopeful that they have a strong support mechanism in place.

again this is very early, I have read into the BA role from other providers & online as I have not recieved a lot of information from Firebrand and know that there is a lot to learn, I feel that once properly started the qualification will stand me in good stead.

there are options here- generally created by well meaning staff rather than consistently advocated & championed by the company, as somebody who joined the apprenticeship as part of the graduate scheme I have been exposed to more of these social & networking events than most & generally find them useful, motivational and helpful, it would be good if there were more.

Yes

Lloyds is trying to make changes to the way it works, there is a willingness amongst senior leaders to improve & an expectation that staff can do the same. these changes do not always land well but I expect with practice LBG will become good at working in a more modern agile way, prospects for development look good and the strategic plan of LBG to digitise and to focus on customers should provide for a good future.

speak to the hiring manager, spend time with the colleagues in the area you wish to apply for to make certain that it is the right job, that you are a good fit and you can understand the role fully - it wont exactly match what is on the job description.