Assistant Relationship Manager Review
at NatWest Group
Level 3 Apprenticeship
Finance
Canterbury
Review Submitted: March 2022
Overall Rating
4.3 /5
The Overall Rating is the average of all the ratings given in each category. We take those individual ratings and combine them into one final score!
4.5/5
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Overview of Role
5/5
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Skills Development
4/5
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Structure and Support
Overview of Role
Please give an overview of your role and what this involves on a day-to-day basis:
5/5
Supporting a portfolio of SME customers with their banking needs. For example, liasing with appropriate teams to increase credit limits and open new accounts. Signposting customers to services we offer that can benefit them and looking after their accounts by conducting secruity reviews. All in all making their experience with the bank as straightforward as possible.
To what extent do you enjoy your programme?
4/5
The programme with BPP all in all has been enjoyable however there are some moments where I find the work and missions are very repititive. This can make the process quite mundane. The role itself I am enjoying and feel that the apprenticeship has been extremely useful in helping me to attain a professional banking certificate.
Skills Development
Have you learnt any new skills or developed existing skills?
5/5
I already had strong customer realtionship skills from my time as a store manager in a busy retail shop but I find this role has developed this exponentially. I had zero banking experience so I have learnt numerours skills around banking, finance and regulations. I learn something new every day.
Structure and Support
How well organised/structured is your programme?
3/5
It could be better. I have been on programme now for just under a year yet I have had 3 coaches so far. Each with a different working style which has not been very helpful at times. Most pf the webinars have been helpful however I have found a couple slightly time wasting, this could be though because of my customer service experience already. Some of the webinars have been rescheduled with zero notice.
How much support do you receive from your employer?
5/5
I recieve a lot of support from my employer to complete my apprenticeship. My line manager continuously asks me how I am getting on through regular catch up sessions both face to face and virtually. I have been buddied with a relationship mananger who has completed the programme which has helped tenfold.
How much support do you receive from your training provider when working towards your qualifications?
4/5
As stated previossly, I am now on my third coach and have found varying support from each. Overall I would say that I have been given good support but find that some of the feedback has lacked detail which couldv'e helped me to get a distinction level in my missons had it been there to begin with.
How well do you feel that your qualification (through your training provider) helps you to perform better in your role?
4/5
The beginning of the programme has definitely supported me in my role as this was all about studying for my professional banker certificate. The webinars and rescources for this were extrmely helpful. I find the reflection/missions are useful in supporting me to review how far I have come and what I have learnt.
Are there extra-curricular activities to get involved in at your work? (For example, any social activities, sports teams, or even professional networking events.)
4/5
These have not been very often due to the covid 19 pandemic. Pre the pandemic, volunteer opportunities and professional networking events were held quite regularly. These are now starting to slowly be introduced. I have two volunteer days already planned with my team for the next few months as well as a face to face team meeting with the whole of our region upcoming.
Recommendations & Advice
Would you recommend NatWest Group to a friend?
Yes
Why?
I find that the bank does look after its employees and supports them in their career. I think it is fantastic that they have this apprenticeship as people like me would struggle to get into banking any other way if they come from another career background. NatWest cares about our customers and is always looking for ways to support them in their every day needs.
What tips or advice would you give to others applying to NatWest Group?
If you are not coming from a banking/finance background then do not worry. NatWest value the things that cannot be taught. If you have a great work ethic, teamwork skills and the drive to support customers then that is what they look for. Anything technical can always be taught.
