Leadership and Management Higher Apprentice Review

My role within Barclays is Operations Manager. I manage a team of cashiers and look after all operations within the Branch. This consists of cash management, performance management, safety and security, process and procedures, HR, FCA compliance, health and safety and lots more.

I started this role straight after completing my A levels so i have basically learnt all of my current skills in the role.

I have enjoyed the roles that i have done throughout Barclays. However i have found that there is very little communication between the early careers team and my line managers which means that no one knows what to do when they get a higher apprentice. I have had mixed reviews from my managers where some have been supportive and helped to develop me whilst some have left me unmotivated and bored with little to do.

Very poor organisation. No communication between the early careers team and line managers. No guidance for managers who are getting a higher apprentice on what they should do with them which leads to slow uptake in development and being left in roles with nothing to do. [This section of the comment has been removed by a member of the RateMyApprenticeship Team because it did not meet our site terms and conditions] You can not get in touch with the early careers team when you need something urgently. If you email someone it takes a month to get a response and then you do not get a good answer to your question.

I get a huge amount of support from my current line manager however this is one of the only people who have supported me within Barclays.

The university are very supportive and helpful. They appreciate that you are working full time and are very empathetic about this.

The qualification has very little, if any connection to my role. Whilst it is a leadership qualification, I am yet to use anything from my degree within my role.

Not really but its work so that shouldn't be an expectation. If someone wanted to organise something then they would be more than welcome.

Yes

They have looked after their staff very well during covid 19 which has showed just how much they care about staff well being. It is also a company with a lot of job security in my opinion which is good for most people

Barclays moto is "Customer Obssessed" so make sure you are too. This means link all your answers in the recruitment process to the benefit of the customer. (This is for all roles, even ones that arent customer facing)