Relationship Management Apprenticeship Review

My main tasks are going to customer meetings with various Relationship Managers on my team and writing up notes. I also help with the preparation and follow up / action points for each meeting. I am also helping all of my team with their Customer Due Diligence and making daily phone calls to the KPMG team to see what is outstanding. I then email customers to make them aware and follow up too if needed.

I have improved my communication skills, particularly adapting them to a banking / office based style. I have also become more confident in my banking knowledge e.g. product partners we work with, what they do and how this may help customers to save money. I now know many of the systems we use daily and how to get information easily.

I have so far had a great experience with my apprenticeship, everybody has been welcoming and understanding (especially when I was new to the role). I have also been given so many opportunities for example speaking on a panel at Bishopsgate for the Rocking Ur Teens event and attending a focus group. I do find the role to be stressful at times and people seem to work very long hours (particularly in the evening).

I think sometimes I do not have enough because I still do not know how to do everything or use every programme. I think there are also some major flaws with the structure of the Chartered Banking sessions, it is very heavy at 3 hours long and 6 hours per week to study just is not enough. I also find that the job is quite demanding meaning I cannot always do the 6 hours required. I think there could be some improvements into training we get on each programme that is used at the bank and also the structure of the CBI training could be modified to make it more student friendly. It may also be better if it was not over Zoom as that is a long time to sit and concentrate. The slides used are not all the info we need too.

I have received alot of support from my Line Manager and my Director. I have been really happy with my team and the independence I have been given by them. At first I was making some mistakes but I was encouraged to keep going and I feel I am reaching my full potential at work. Sometimes I feel that I am left to my own devices a bit too often so I do not always have a lot to do.

I have a lot of support from my coach, but I feel like we been very much left to our own devices by CBI / BPP. I think there has been a huge lack in revision prep, exam technique and general assistance on practice questions. I know a lot of this is on the hub however, I do not feel that prepared for the exam and how it is going to work.

The qualification - PBC - Has helped a great deal in expanding my knowledge about banking overall and applying knowledge to each task that I do. For example: learning about Digital Adaptions and the history of banking has helped me to understand particular customers frustration with closures and digitalisation. Particularly, as it is rapidly changing and adapting.

There a huge array of activities to get involved with for example our networks e.g Aspire Network, Gender Network etc and you can be as involved or not as you like. We also have team outings every quarter for example recently we went to Oche, a darts place and spent time together, It was so fun.

Yes

All in all, I have found the staff here to be welcoming, kind and helpful to new joiners. I also feel that no matter what level you are in the business, you are treated with respect and equality. It is such a nice feeling. I have also felt that there are so many other things to get involved in and no two days are the same. We have some really interesting customers and so that makes the experience so much better.

I would say prepare and research NatWest as much as you can. They give you a lot of tips and advice and if you prepare properly then you will do really well in the interview stage. I did research on the STAR technique and I also brought a notebook with me to write the questions they ask down so I could think before I answered them.