Group Operations Degree Apprentice Review

My day-to-day role is within data standards, and ensuring that the bank's data is timely, complete and accurate. Good quality data is essential to the bank to stay well within all regulations, and protect significant revenue, whilst evolving the way we process and analyze data. My role is within a change team, so our job is to improve standards of data, whilst catering to the needs of stakeholders from around the bank.

I am constantly learning and developing new skills. One aspect of a change team is that we modernize and update how things are done around the bank, so we need to be ahead of the curve in many skills, particularly in IT. A big part of my teams work is around robotics, and how automation can enhance the role of data within the bank. IT Skills, Use of data analytics tools like alteryx, and communicating in a business environment have allowed me to develop rapidly.

The programme is very enjoyable in many ways. Spending 80% of the time with my team is great, as the team culture is strong and its a great environment in which to work. The university side of the programme can be stressful, and strong organisational and time-management skills are required to stay on top as the content can be extensive. Saying this, there are numerous support channels, and the sheer rate of development makes this worth it.

These programmes are relatively new, so the structure may be something that can develop over time. The division of 80% of your working time with the team, and 20% with the university is very clear, and well set out. By offering an authentic experience and giving you placements as a normal employee within the bank, the structure with work will change person to person, but you are certainly looked out for.

There are many channels in which you receive support from the employer. Firstly, you have a line-manager, who will have 1:1s with you and take you through your development within the team. Secondly, you are assigned a mentor, which can be really helpful to have the outside perspective of someone who has been in a similar situation to you. thirdly, you have periodic check-ins with the apprenticeship team, and these are very friendly and looking after you. All in all, the support has been comprehensive and very active.

You are the master of your own career and development, and you may have to reach out and actively engage more than at previous stages of education. You are given a calendar of events, different learning tools, and a lot of independence in regards to your training qualifications. Communication hasn't always been ideal, however feedback has been given, and the training provider actively looks to improve, so as the programme develops, so will the support.

During the first year of the apprenticeship, you all work together towards the same Apprenticeship qualification, before you specialise later in the course, depending on the function of the bank you work in. The content of the initial course is very comprehensive, and perhaps doesn't include too much content from an Operations standpoint, however it is very useful content in the context of working in financial services, and will be useful for future opportunities.

There are many extra-curricular opportunities to get involved with at work. During your induction week, you receive information and talks about the different 'networks' at UBS and how you can get involved. there is an on-site gym, many events on a weekly basis and plenty of social events too. UBS values volunteering and charitable activity, so gives each employee an allocation of working days that they devote to volunteering.

Yes

When you are deciding the next steps in your life after A-levels, it can be easy to just decide to go to university without further thought. however, UBS degree apprenticeships allow you to base yourself in central london, gain first-class experience in a tier 1 bank, gain a better quality degree and qualification than most peers at university, and earn a competitive salary, allowing you to complete your education debt free, with income to spare. The development you receive within this apprenticeship is far superior to any qualification a university can offer alone, and you'll put yourself in a superb position, whilst enjoying yourself at the same time.

Be passionate in what you do, show what you care about apply for the function that you'd most like to be experienced in. When meeting the other apprentices in my year for the first time, it was immediately clear that drive and passion stood out, and these qualities are valued immensely in financial services. Don't value yourself simply as the grade you receive on a piece of paper from GCSEs/A-levels, there are superior qualities that can get you further in your career.