GM EMEA COO Apprentice Review

Business management for Global Markets in Europe, Middle East and Africa. This involves looking after the voice recording for these persons, international visitors to the Global Markets trading floors, monitoring the BCM (business continuity mangement) sites and things such as subscriptions and certificates for traders. Looking more into making Global Markets more economically friendly and agile e.g. removing printers from trading floor.

Absolutely. Social skills, writing skills (emails and essay writing), different levels of communication skills e.g. formal and informal, Excel skills, Zoom, Microsoft Teams. The list goes on for general apps but I think biggest thing I have gained is confidence. My job role entails me communicating with people of all different ranks, everywhere on the globe, you get comfortable with calling someone randomly.

Thoroughly enjoy, it can be extremely challenging and studying takes up A LOT of time, which can be demanding and sometimes upsetting if I don't receive the grades I would have hoped for. I enjoy working in a close-knit team and working in the city (especially wearing professional outfits!

This is tricky since my programme has a lot of changes to it. It feels as though us apprentices are the last to find out any changes such as changing our entire degree structure to studying the CFA. Also something to mention is originally not receiving physical textbooks for the CFA until multiple complaints were filed. However, the lectures are structured well.

I think that this varies between teams for each apprentice. Some teams will want to give you the time to study, especially if you have 'free time', however other teams are more of a work-based team and will want you to work or login to work, even on a study day. I believe everyone at UBS wants you to succeed and I am lucky to have a line manager that will put the time aside to help me with my university work. To mention though that I was told to not use a meeting room for my university work which I see as unfair, given that if I don't pass this is a breach of my contact and may result in being fired.

Again to mention the physical textbooks issue, this really felt ridiculous. Sitting an exam that lasts for over 2 years and has a 22% pass rate without a physical textbook seemed near impossible. I understand we have since been given these books (3 weeks after the initial promised date of receiving them) but this seemed unsupportive. I think in lectures if we ask questions they are answered well and indepth, the mentors are brilliant for support and will always lend an ear.

100,000%! Working on a trading floor where there is constant talk about financial products, the qualification knowledge has given me an insight and more indepth knowledge of this. Which of course will lead to more confidence and proficiency in my role to understand what I am helping to manage.

I joined the netball team, multiple networks; pride network, all bar none, disability awareness, Mosaic. I have been to networking events such as lectures in the auditorium. I have been to charity events both virtually (Guide Dog Association) and many virtually (Bridge Academy, helping women whose first language isn't English, the list goes on!) Unfortunately my team has had some changes and is relatively small, we are trying to plan a social but still after 18 months have not been to one!

Yes

I have never learnt so much in such a small period of time in my entire life. I compare myself to my friends at university and see that I am in such a better position both academically, mentally and socially. You have so many perks such as valueflex and the ability to me in a huge hard working company, they would be mad not to apply!

be yourself, the people hiring you will have to work with you at the end of the day - they do not want someone pretending to know everything, they understand you've been at school! Ask as many questions as possible, you also need to find out if this job is the best suited to you.