Wealth and personal banking degree apprentice Review

Within this apprenticeship you get allocated a new placement every year (total 4). 1st placement was in escalated complaints, 2nd placement is currently in a branch. Both roles have been customer facing. Day to day my role currently involves coaching people staff in the branch and organising community and fundraising events.

We attend virtual university every week, throughout this I have learnt lots of new information which is relevant to the banking industry. We also have 1-1s with a training provider called KAPLAN and they focus on our skills. I have developed lots of skills, specifically communication, collaberation, management and leadership.

I completely enjoy the University side of things, we have a study day once a week, allowing us to attend lectures, complete university works and assignment. The team I currently work with supports my development and we work together so I can learn new skill and behaviours. (However the 1st placement was not the same).

We have a timetable for the 4 four years advising us of when we have lectures, therefore this is well organised and easy the plan around. We have 1 specific day of study every week so therefore if you use this time effectively there is not loads of work to do out of work hours. Although placement allocation is not organised.

There is a lot of support, from the university staff and lectures, we then have a Kaplan coach who we meet every 6 weeks, your placement manager, and then the apprenticeship managers. If we have a query from the apprenticeship side it does take a while to get response from the apprenticeship managers.

The training provider LIBF and KAPLAN are very helpful. Any question they will always email back and guide you with problems. We have a meeting with the KAPLAN tutor every 6 weeks therefore there is consistent contact. Any questions regarding university assignments or lectures, LIBF are always happy to help and do so promptly.

From completing the university course, I now know more about the banking industry which has helped me within my roles and will help me throughout my career. We did an assignment on leadership and management which I have been able to put into practice. With KAPLAN we have to evidence a full set of skills which we have shown in role. If we haven't evidenced this we can then work on it with a talent coach.

Within work there are many events to take part in. HSBC give employees 2 volunteer days a year. This means you can go volunteer on a work day, otherwise if you volunteer on a non working day HSBC will give you the hours back as holiday. There is also lots of community fundraising events.

Yes

HSBC is a great company to work for and has a great working culture and values. There are many opportunities to develop in your job role and progress through your career. There is also 100s of different job roles and departments to progress therefore you do not have to stick in one place.

Look and the HSBC website and the values of HSBC. Ensure that you can evidence and provide an example that you have either shown or evidenced a value in the past. Make sure you are prepared for the interview and assessment days. There are quite a few stages to the process but just take it one step at a time.