WPB Degree Apprentice Review

In my current role I am working under First Direct in risk control. I work with stakeholders to understand our controls and risks. I am responsible to ensure these operate effectively and if they do not to raise and investigate with the relevant teams. This is my first placement and I will rotate in to a different role every year.

This opportunity has allowed me to further develop my people skills. I work daily with multiple teams so need to be able to work well with other and able to lead meetings. I have developed new skills in relation to the new systems needed for the role. I have also been able to further develop my use of standard systems such as excel, learning new functions.

I enjoy that I am going through this with 30 other colleagues so I have been able to develop new friendships/relationships across the country. The exposure to other departments is giving me great insight into where I see my future within the bank. The support across stakeholders has been fantastic and I feel fully supported and encouraged to achieve my best.

The structure has been laid out very well, we are given a calendar setting out the next 4 years of the programme with all the key dates set out for our assignment's and lectures. Within HSBC they have also been good at organising my setting out their expectations and guidance set out for role before starting. They also keep in regular contact to support in meeting expectation's.

I receive great support from HSBC as a whole. I regularly (sometimes daily) am in contact with my Line Manager who supports me on a professional and personal level. I am also in regular contact with my line managers. manager offering me another line of support. HSBC has a dedicated apprenticeship where there are dedicated members off staff to support my particular apprenticeship.

We are supported greatly by the LIBF, who give regular updates on your progress. They also monitor your progress and your lecture will reach out if they believe you may be falling behind so that they can offer you any necessary support or understand any mitigating circumstances. As part of the apprenticeship we are also supported my Kaplan who assign you a talent coach to assist you throughout the apprenticeship.

The qualification is allowing me to better understand the financial markets and why banks operate how they do and also what can drive decisions. It is helping me to better understand my new role and as to why we have to take on particular responsibilities and the importance of these.

Due to covid the extra-curricular activities have dropped, but across the HSBC brand we have remained focused on raising money for charity. We have been sharing these activities across our teams and network. The bank has been great at supporting it colleagues through this time by offering tea an chat up sessions virtually, allowing us to have a general catch up without talking business and we have also ran virtual quizzes through out.

Yes

There are a variation of roles within the bank so it offers you a wide variety of potential progression into different business areas. The pension scheme offered is great. There are many benefits you can opt in to offering you the ability to lead a better lifestyle. The company have many great resources to support staff with their wellbeing, offering a telephone service and private care through bupa are just a few examples. I have received great support throughout my time in the bank with developing my skills to gain promotions.

The best advice I can offer is to be yourself, and show this in your interview. Also in an interview always ask questions and put thought in to these as this can be what makes you stand out from other candidates. Take your time with your application and break down the questions to fully understand what they are looking for in that particular role, and copy this in an interview. Do not rush your interview questions, they know you will not always have the answer on the tip of your tongue, take the time to compose your answer.