Rating

4.8/10
  • 1. Please give an overview of your role and what this involves on a day-to-day basis:
  • Monday's and Fridays are spent on personal development of behaviours and skills via BPP Apprenticeship training, including Missions, reflection forms, workshops and reviews. The rest of the week is spent in rotations, learning how different departments operate and the role they play in helping the bank prevent Financial Crime. We also gain on-the-job training and experience from the rotations

    3/10

  • 2. Have you learnt any new skills or developed existing skills?
  • I have learnt and developed lots of existing skills as well as new ones. Some key developments would be: - Teamwork - Analysis & Problem Solving - Leadership - Multi-tasking - Work-management/time-management New skills: - Banking industry - Financial Crime - Corporate/professional environment practices There are always new skills and experiences that we can have the opportunity to develop

    5/10

  • 3. To what extent do you enjoy your programme?
  • I started the programme really enjoying it. I loved the opportunity to learn and develop new and existing skills. I loved the work environment, both in the programme and the bank as a whole. I saw a long-term career here at the start. Unfortunately, over the course of the programme, my enjoyment has dropped significantly. The opportunities that I thought were there have not come to fruition, despite regular follow up and continued hard-work. There are too many barriers and we are treated too much like children and not the young professionals that we are being told we are becoming. I feel my value is not recognised in public or private

    2/10

  • 4. How well organised/structured is your programme?
  • The structure of the programme seems good. We have a pretty clear idea of what we will be doing in the future and what rotations we will have. We also know what the BPP aspects of the apprenticeship will involve. I don't feel that the scheme is as well organised though. Things often feel like they are rushed and left to the last minute or done as an after thought. There is regular confusion between managers and apprentices with what is expected

    4/10

  • 5. How much support do you receive from your employer?
  • Nowhere near as much as I did when I started. It is often there when I need it or really push for it but it seems like emphasis is put on us to sort problems rather than managers helping. This is fine and is part of development that we all need to learn but sometimes when I don't know something and still don't know after research, I am still asked by managers to seek more information individually.

    5/10

  • 6. How much support do you receive from your training provider when working towards your qualifications?
  • Regular check-ins are there. Sometimes it feels like reflections are not properly read by the BPP manager. It is not always easy to communicate in non face-to-face interactions - maybe there could be more of these. Workshops are fun, engaging and informative. The qualifications are relatively clear on how they work but sometimes too many things overlap and make prioritising work difficult

    5/10

  • 7. How well do you feel that your qualification (through your training provider) helps you to perform better in your role?
  • A little. A lot of emphasis is on skills that I already have so maybe there isn't as much growth seen in myself as others. The qualification definitely helps me to further my understanding of the industry and encourages me to look at the wider legislation, changes and news.

    6/10

  • 8. Are there extra-curricular activities to get involved in at your work? (For example, any social activities, sports teams, or even professional networking events.)
  • We have the PEN society that often puts on company-wide events. I know there are also options for football and other activities. There are regular charity events which raise money for good causes and are always well run. Networking events are not often available to apprentices but I believe they are more common in the wider bank - it would be nice to have more formal opportunities to network

    8/10

  • 9a. Would you recommend Santander to a friend?
  • Yes


  • 9b. Why?
  • I like the work culture and all of the people that I have met and interacted with, both professionally and informally. The pay is generally good, there are opportunities and everyone is polite and helpful. I feel welcomed by everyone, from other apprentices, services such as canteen and facilities to senior members of staff. Unfortunately I would not recommend the scheme as it feels too isolated from the things that make Santander good


  • 10. What tips or advice would you give to others applying to Santander?
  • Get clarification for the role, responsibilities and opportunities before signing contracts. There is a lot to check and confirm before starting, which is understandable. Don't take what others, even senior colleagues, say without it being in writing. Do your research on everything about the role and the company before committing.


Details

Level 3 Apprenticeship

Finance

Milton Keynes

April 2019


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