Central operations R&C apprentice Review

My role includes: Reviewing risks in company’s procedures. Reviewing personal dealing accounts to ensure we comply with FCA regulation. Bringing together key stakeholders to review key controls and reaching out to areas of the business to ensure we keep the level of risk to a minimum to comply with company and regulators tolerances.

Yes, I have built key communication skills both in verbal and writing. I have learnt how to plan my work based on time scales and urgency. I have also learned how to bring together multiple people to agree on a situation to ensure come to solution agreed by all parties.

I have very much enjoyed the programme. The appeal of being able to earn and learn is massive. It also allows me to meet new people and create new contacts which is something I really enjoy doing. The only problem Is I wish it was longer which would allow us to really make a difference.

The programme is well structured. We have regular catch ups with line managers, tutors and also buddy's(former school leavers/grads). It would be beneficial to bring us together more often as a group to learn from each other’s experiences and also I would appreciate there to be more guides to follow for completing the units for my apprenticeship.

Standard life Aberdeen(my employers) offer a great deal of support. This includes financial, which includes paying for travel, professional qualifications and being a living wage employer. You are also offered a great deal of benefits and holidays including 5 study days which are on top of a already leading holiday allowance.

I would appreciate more support in the form of exemplars. I do on occasion find myself doing work that is then later told to me to be not relevant for my apprenticeship even though I had previously been advised that is what to do. I think exemplars to follow would make the apprenticeship much more maintainable.

I do not think the apprenticeship qualification is very beneficial for myself. I do see it’s benefits for a certain category but I do not know if I am the category that benefits the most from it. I think it is best as it may allow you to evidence you can complete qualifications and work at the same time.

There is plenty of things to do out-with working with Standard Life Aberdeen. I have made plenty of friends working here and have regular social events with them. There is also plenty of structured events for departments and for social and diversity groups. There is also sports events such as touch rugby.

Yes

I think it is a great opportunity to work at the company and you can learn so much in a short period of time due to the huge amount of work we cover. There a great social presence and also a fantastic corporate environment at the company which allows you to get great support.

I would advise people that it isn’t exactly what people expect the company to be. Lots of people expect it to be extremely formal and constant pressure, whilst at times it can be like that, a lot of time it is working with colleagues who you build strong relationships with that you really enjoy.