Commercial Banking Degree Apprentice Review
at HSBC
Degree Apprenticeship
Commercial Banking
Manchester
Review Submitted: March 2026
Overall Rating
5 /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!
5/5
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Overview of Role
5/5
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Skills Development
5/5
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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
My role as a commercial banking degree apprentice, involves 4 working days, 1 study day, working on hybrid policy across the week.
The roles have consisted of annual rotations across different areas in commercial banking, specifically I have spent a year working as a 'Business Specialist' looking after SME customers in Business Banking, a Deputy Relationship Director in the Mid-Market Corporate Banking Team, now an Associate in Transaction Risk Management team (credit/prioduct risk role).
My time is spent between university, apprenticeship work, placement role (which varies from role to role), projects, early careers work, wider-bank projects/collaboration, networking etc. Most of my time is taken up in my placement role to really understand the job role I am working in, which is always learnt on the job and via various training sessions as roles progress.
I have had the opportunity to work with many teams across the bank, clients, external organisations and firms to develop professionally and personally.
HSBC Commercial Banking Degree Apprenticeship has a wide range of support for university work, apprenticeship work, placement roles and much more - so there is always someone there to support you in your journey/development.
The roles have consisted of annual rotations across different areas in commercial banking, specifically I have spent a year working as a 'Business Specialist' looking after SME customers in Business Banking, a Deputy Relationship Director in the Mid-Market Corporate Banking Team, now an Associate in Transaction Risk Management team (credit/prioduct risk role).
My time is spent between university, apprenticeship work, placement role (which varies from role to role), projects, early careers work, wider-bank projects/collaboration, networking etc. Most of my time is taken up in my placement role to really understand the job role I am working in, which is always learnt on the job and via various training sessions as roles progress.
I have had the opportunity to work with many teams across the bank, clients, external organisations and firms to develop professionally and personally.
HSBC Commercial Banking Degree Apprenticeship has a wide range of support for university work, apprenticeship work, placement roles and much more - so there is always someone there to support you in your journey/development.
To what extent do you enjoy your programme?
5/5
I really enjoy that I get to add real value and impact as another colleague in any role would be doing as part of their role, I have had the chance to learn professional soft skills that are essential throughout my career, as well as the technical skills required to complete a job role.
I have been given real responsibility and ways to progress through my degree apprenticeship and have really enjoyed the opportunity to learn and meet/work with many fantastic people across all areas of my degree apprenticeship.
I have been given real responsibility and ways to progress through my degree apprenticeship and have really enjoyed the opportunity to learn and meet/work with many fantastic people across all areas of my degree apprenticeship.
Skills Development
Have you learnt any new skills or developed existing skills?
5/5
I have learnt many skills including:
Financial analysis - the ability to read and understand a cashflow, balance sheet, profit and loss statement and many other types of financial statements
Sector knowledge - how various businesses work and change, and emerging trends and updates across industries
Product knowledge - understanding how simple to complicated bank products work and how they work together, as well as how they function on a day to day basis for customers.
Credit knowledge - I have learnt to identify the risks and mitigants when working with different businesses of different sizes against bank and industry policy.
Communication/Organisation - as an example of some key skills required in presentations, projects, time management - communication and organisation have underpinned my soft skills learning on my degree apprenticeship.
Financial analysis - the ability to read and understand a cashflow, balance sheet, profit and loss statement and many other types of financial statements
Sector knowledge - how various businesses work and change, and emerging trends and updates across industries
Product knowledge - understanding how simple to complicated bank products work and how they work together, as well as how they function on a day to day basis for customers.
Credit knowledge - I have learnt to identify the risks and mitigants when working with different businesses of different sizes against bank and industry policy.
Communication/Organisation - as an example of some key skills required in presentations, projects, time management - communication and organisation have underpinned my soft skills learning on my degree apprenticeship.
Structure and Support
How well organised/structured is your programme?
5/5
The programme is clearly structured.
We complete 4 annual rotations across commercial banking in different roles.
We receive a study day weekly to complete apprenticeship and university work.
We also work on a hybrid basis - allowing flexibility to where and when we work.
We complete 4 annual rotations across commercial banking in different roles.
We receive a study day weekly to complete apprenticeship and university work.
We also work on a hybrid basis - allowing flexibility to where and when we work.
How much support do you receive from your employer?
5/5
Very well supported - we have dedicated support across our degree apprenticeship.
Apprenticeship - we have a dedicated 1 to 1 support to review our work and discuss next actions/steps.
University - we have dedicated lecturers and support teams at the university to help with progress on any work
Placement - we have buddies (formally via Emerging Talent) and in role (people you work with regularly) as well as a dedicated line manager.
Emerging Talent - HSBC's team of colleagues is setup to provide both 1 to 1 support via regular catchups and wider support depending on the query/support your require.
This is just the start - there is plenty more support that HSBC offers degree apprentices - these are just some examples.
Apprenticeship - we have a dedicated 1 to 1 support to review our work and discuss next actions/steps.
University - we have dedicated lecturers and support teams at the university to help with progress on any work
Placement - we have buddies (formally via Emerging Talent) and in role (people you work with regularly) as well as a dedicated line manager.
Emerging Talent - HSBC's team of colleagues is setup to provide both 1 to 1 support via regular catchups and wider support depending on the query/support your require.
This is just the start - there is plenty more support that HSBC offers degree apprentices - these are just some examples.
How much support do you receive from your training provider when working towards your qualifications?
5/5
We receive regular catch up to review our progress and any outstanding actions for our apprenticeship work, and we have regular lecturers and 'office hours' for university work to ask any questions on ongoing university studies.
How well do you feel that your qualification (through your training provider) helps you to perform better in your role?
5/5
Much better - I am able to utilise a lot of the information that I learn within various roles at HSBC, as an example I undertook a module on the commercial/corporate part of financial services, where I learnt about the various ratios and financial analytics methods used, which I then used in my job role which improved my competency at my job.
Are there extra-curricular activities to get involved in at your work? (For example, any social activities, sports teams, or even professional networking events.)
5/5
There is extensive opportunity for professional networking both internally and externally at HSBC, via HSBC's employee resource groups there are opportunities to meet like minded colleagues on specific topics in both formal and informal settings. There are also opportunities to undertake volunteering days to support a charity/good cause that you are passionate about!
Recommendations & Advice
Would you recommend HSBC to a friend?
Yes
Why?
HSBC is supportive organisation, that gives degree apprentices a real platform to succeed and develop, getting access to roles and opportunities with real responsibility and impact at an early stage in your career, HSBC also provides the opportunity to work in many different roles depending on your career aspirations and works with you to help you achieve them.
What tips or advice would you give to others applying to HSBC?
Research - learn about the role and business line you are applying for by using HSBC's publicly available resources online to understand the role and part of HSBC you are applying to.
