HR Support Apprentice Review

I work within the Early Talent team at Newcastle Building Society. We work on a hybrid basis, which means typically 2 days in the office and 3 days from home. Daily tasks include recruiting for new apprentice, student placement and graduate roles, running assessment centres, performing credit checks, taking part in team meetings to discuss weekly priorities, tasks and strategy discussions. We also go out as a team to local school and universities to promote our Early Talent Programme.

I have definitely developed new skills within Human resources, including how to use different systems and processes for e-learning and recruitment, as well as developing my ownership skills and flexibility, having taking part in workshops to improve my time management skills. I also feel more confident within the workplace both as a person and in the work I do day to day.

I have very much enjoyed the workshops and assignments I have taken part in so far through my learning provider, as they have allowed me to relay the theory back to my working practices and reflect on my own personal development. Through exposure to different areas of the business I have a better understanding of how HR and my role in particular plays a part in the organisations goals.

I think the programme of academic learning set out my learning provider gives a good overview of different areas of human resources, and brings up areas of personal development which I can work on to improve not only my own knowledge but my ability to complete the assignments with a good variety of evidence and understanding.

I receive a lot of support from my Line Manager and wider team, through regular check ins. We discuss opportunities for development and my manager helps me to gain experience in different areas of the business. I am always asked how I am finding work load and know that there is a team to support me.

Good amount of support and encouragement given through bi-monthly check ins with my development coach and my line manager. My progress is marked against KSBs, areas for improvement are identified and plans of action put in place to ensure that I am getting the right amount of exposure to different areas of learning.

While much of the learning is theory based through workshops, there are opportunities for interesting discussions with other students to give examples of how we have put these into practice. This allows me to reflect on my experiences so far and attribute different learnings to assessment criteria to help me back up my assignments.

Through Early Talent programme we have the opportunities to visit external businesses to learn about what they do, as well as promote out programme to schools and universities through careers fairs. I have a peer support group of other apprentices in the organisation through which I can socialise and network, as well as my own team. We also are given 2 volunteering days a year which we can take individually or as a team

Yes

I truly believe that Newcastle Building Society is a great place to work, and certainly the best company I have ever worked for. We are a purpose led organisation which truly cares about it's colleagues, giving great levels of support and benefit to ensure a good work life balance and high levels of job satisfaction and motivation.

We really look for candidates who believe in the purpose we stand for and values we uphold as an organisation. I do recommend applying for a job with Newcastle Building Society, and you will be able to experience first hand just what a great place to work we are. There is a very connected and inclusive culture throughout the business and we love to foster and grow new talent.