Barclays Higher Apprentice Review

At the moment I am supporting the Merseyside Business Team with account opening, KYC and lending applications.

I've learnt how to be confident whilst on the phone to customers, colleagues and stakeholders. I've learnt the new systems and processes involved in each business area as well.

I enjoy the role but don't feel like there's much support when it comes to finding a permenant role at the end of the programme.

The programme isn't well structured at all. There is a huge lack of communication between the uni, Knowledgepool and Barclays, with each party not really knowing what other commitments we have.

Barclays are supportive but a lot of the leaders have no awareness of the programme which can be challenging as they don't realise what work we have to do outside of the day to day role.

I have monthly calls with Knowledgepool and I always feel I can call them as and when but they often aren't able to provide much clarity on issues that evolve.

To begin with, I was based in Premier banking and the qualification was not helpful in my role at all but once I moved into Business banking, the two worked a lot better together as the qualification is based more corporate customers.

Yes but a lot of them in the business team rely on you having a portfolio of customers so that you can take them to the events. As I don't have a portfolio, I haven't been able to attend many extra activities.

Yes

I think the concept of the programme is good and with some tweaks, especially with communicating what work needs to be done, it'd be greatly improved.

Be prepared to work hard and be thrown in the deep end but also to learn so much more than you could do just attending uni alone.