Business Support Assistant Review

When starting my apprenticeship, I worked in branch as a customer service assistant; maintaining self-service machines, serving customers on the counter and answering queries on the welcome desk. Towards the end of my appenticeship, I started a new role as a business support assistant in the experience design team, supporting resourcing by liasing with candidates and hiring managers.

I have developed personal skills mostly. The apprenticeship initially pushed me out of my comfort zone and encouraged me to self reflect and review areas that I succeed at; building my confidence and pushing me to believe in myself more. I also learned of different areas within banking that I initially had no knowledge on: credit, borrowing, interest, mortgages.

I had good and bad moments throughout my journey. Initially I didn't wish you continue with my learning because I wasn't being given the time I was owed to complete my activities, resulting in me feeling overworked as I was finishing work late into the night as I was working full time too. I changed coaches a few months into my apprenticeship, which changed my whole mindset of the apprenticeship; my coach was supportive and encouraging.

My programme was well structured, being able to have visibility of all my tasks as well as the dates in which they should be completed helped me to organise my workload and understand my progress throughout my learning. Having regular check ins with my coach ensured I stayed on track with assignments.

Initially I didn't recieve the support I had hoped to receive from my employer; I was being given the time due to me and it resulted in me feeling negatively towards my apprenticeship. Once I changed coaches, my new coach spoke to me new line manager and expressed the importance of my learning, this drastically changed the support I was being given, which was reflected in the work I produced.

My second coach was extremely supportive, they would regularly check in on my wellbeing, as well as providing constructive criticism to my submitted work; they suggested areas of improvement in a way that helped me in a positive way, ensuring it didn't result in me feeling deflated and unproductive.

I feel that my qualification has helped me in my role in branch as well as my new role in design, I appreciate team dynamics, understanding characteristics and methods to boost performance, as well as expanding my knowledge of different financial industries and the part they play in our society,

Social activities are often promoted through work, these encourage us to build teamworking skills as well as improving relationships with our wider team and beyond. Also, networking events widen the impact our group has on other professionals, encouraging collaboration and creating secure relationships both within and outside of the organisation.

Yes

I love where I work, we are a big organisation that provides important services to a huge number of customers/clients. My colleagues are friendly, support is always available if someone needs it, and there are so many opportunities to learn and grow, expanding skills and knowledge of different areas within the financial sector.

I would say to go for it! I have enjoyed my time at Lloyds and plan on remaining here for my full career, there are so many different teams/departments that different skills or interests would always be beneficial somewhere, there are many opportunities to grow and supportive colleagues/line managers encourage personal development.