Business Administrator Review

My role involves processing customer requests and queries in relation to their mortgage accounts. This can range from processing simple redemption requests to complicated reconciliations and running interest calculations. I am also involved in dealing policy maturities, scheme transfers and several other aspects of mortgage administration during my day to day work.

I have learned several new skills and developed existing ones during my time with the Society so far. I have gained a good understanding of how mortgages work, from knowing practically nothing prior to starting my job. I have also developed my skills with regard to working alongside a team and working to tight deadlines in an often busy environment.

Although I very much enjoy my job and would recommend my employer wholeheartedly to others, I am less impressed with the quality of the Apprenticeship programme itself. I feel that among other things, the content is too basic and is sometimes not relevant to what I am doing in my day to day work. For example, discussion of personal presentation, i.e. what I wear to work, does not really seem relevant given that the company has a relaxed dress code policy in any case. Additionally I feel that the provider itself is too distant, after a few personal visits, the programme seems to consist mainly of 'virtual' meetings using a programme similar to Skype, which is not what I had expected. Finally work that I submitted several weeks ago has not been looked at, which is a little disappointing.

I think due to the fact that this is first intake of apprentices at my organisation, we are in a sense 'guinea pigs' and I totally understand this. I feel that my employer has done a good job in supporting me as an apprentice. The programme itself appears to be relatively well structured, with three component areas on which the apprentices will be assessed at the end of their programme.

I feel I have an excellent level of support from my employer. I am in regular contact with the apprenticeship manager, and I am able to turn to my assigned mentor as well as my line manager for assistance, both of whom are fully up to date and involved in the programme itself.

I have received a decent level of support from my provider, however I feel that some of the guidance could be clear, for example with regard to what is expected from written assignments. Quite a lot of the questions are open-ended/vague and do not make clear the length or type of response expected.

I feel that my qualification does help in terms of having a broader understanding of business administration in a general sense, allowing me to learn about things that I may not pick up on in day to day work - although the majority of new knowledge has come from on the job training in my role.

Yes, my employer operates a staff association club, run by other colleagues, which gives its members the chance to participate in days away, nights out, a monthly lottery, volunteering days etc. I would say the level of extra-curricular activities is really high and contributes towards making my workplace more enjoyable.

Yes

Newcastle Building Society is an interesting place to work and I feel that from the very beginning I have been welcomed into the business and been given plenty of support in getting started. The Society has involved me in several projects and opportunities aside from day to day work, which will help to enhance my career, therefore I would thoroughly recommend them.

I would advise those applying to be open-minded. Although the world of mortgages, lending, administration etc. does not sound very exciting to some, in my experience I have come across a whole range of different experiences in my day to day work. Some of these you might not expect from the job title, such as handling extremely old deeds packets, analysing data, working with GDPR etc.