Global Markets Apprentice Review

Roles and responsibilities are very similar to those on the GTP programme in the sense that until you become regulated (end of programme) there are certain restrictions around the tasks you can perform. However, you get a lot of analysis tasks which really develop your fundamental skills which you will continue to rely on throughout your career.

There is fantastic learning opportunities on the programme through your day to day tasks as well as the learning platforms provided. There is an endless catalogue of courses you can attend with fitch ranging from financial modelling to negotiation skills and everything in between. By the time you reach the end of your programme you will be equipped with the skills you need to competently perform your job role.

The programme has been really enjoyable. The balance between off the job learning and performing your day to day role is great and really allows you to develop. The exposure you get even as an apprentice to different opportunities including client meetings and live deals is fantastic for your development and the responsibility you are given makes you feel valued within the team and organisation.

The programme has been well structured. Most new apprentices are now put on the degree pathway which allows them to earn a degree through studying one day a week whilst also learning the valuable on the job skills the remaining 4 days in the week. I have had the opportunity to gain a CFA level 1 certificate while on programme.

The support from the employer is great. When you first join there are loads of initiatives to help you settle in such as buddy / mentoring programmes with more senior apprentices / GTPs. Line managers and programme sponsors are incredibly invested in the apprenticeship programme and your individual development and offer fantastic pastoral as well as professional support.

My learning provider was Fitch and they were really good. The learning was quite independent in the sense that I was given access to the learning portal for CISI exams and CFA and expected to learn the content on my own. As it got closer to the exams there were in person learning sessions to really consolidate your learning before the exam. Although the learning was quite independent there was always a Fitch tutor available to run through a challenging concept 1:1 so the support was there if/when you needed it. In addition to this there were regular review meetings with my line manager and skills coach to review development / progress. The degree pathway offers even more support as you are attending lectures weekly with the tutor.

The level 3 qualification I started with gave me a really good platform of the fundamentals to work in the industry. Sitting an intro to securities, UK regulations and an asset servicing exam provided a good initial insight. As i moved onto the level 6 programme I had to sit CFA level 1 which was time demanding and some of the concepts can be challenging but it has given me a really strong foundation in finance / banking. beyond that the level 6 also required me to demonstrate competency against a wide range of soft skills which are needed in the industry. Overall the qualifications coupled with the exposure you get to the day to day job will give you a great platform to start your career.

There are plenty of extra-curricular activities to get involved in. ultimately you will get out what you are willing to put in. In such a large organisation there are so many different opportunities. They range from more organised action streams that work towards achieving positive impact on a wide range of issues. Within the apprenticeship programme there is a network that organises events including social, professional and charitable. As you expand your network there are often unorganised groups of people who do sports outside of working hours but this is something you will need to look for.

Yes

UBS has given me a fantastic opportunity to kickstart my career in a competitive industry. The opportunity to earn a really good salary while gaining industry recognised qualifications has been fantastic. Culturally UBS is a great place to work and somewhere that really values the input and cares for the development of its junior talent.

As someone applying for the apprenticeship programme you are not expected to know much about finance, clearly an interest and some background knowledge is useful though. Ultimately, displaying a genuine eagerness to learn and demonstrating how you will fit in culturally is probably quite important. Bring a good energy to your application, ask questions and be yourself.