Degree Apprenticeship Review
at HSBC
Degree Apprenticeship
Retail Banking
Chester
Review Submitted: April 2026
Overall Rating
4.5 /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
-
Overview of Role
5/5
-
Skills Development
4.2/5
-
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
An HSBC Degree Apprentice is an early-careers colleague who works in a business area while studying towards a funded degree. The role blends hands-on delivery with structured learning, so you’re building practical skills and academic knowledge in parallel.Joining team stand-ups/meetings, taking actions, and tracking progress
Managing a small set of tasks end-to-end (e.g., reporting, process updates, testing, customer/admin queries depending on the area)
Analysing data or MI (management information) to spot trends, issues, or opportunities
Producing clear updates: emails, slides, meeting notes, and status reports
Working with colleagues across teams (Tech, Ops, Risk, Compliance, Product) to unblock work
Following controls: documenting decisions, keeping evidence, and escalating risks early
Setting aside protected time for study, assignments, and apprenticeship reviews
Managing a small set of tasks end-to-end (e.g., reporting, process updates, testing, customer/admin queries depending on the area)
Analysing data or MI (management information) to spot trends, issues, or opportunities
Producing clear updates: emails, slides, meeting notes, and status reports
Working with colleagues across teams (Tech, Ops, Risk, Compliance, Product) to unblock work
Following controls: documenting decisions, keeping evidence, and escalating risks early
Setting aside protected time for study, assignments, and apprenticeship reviews
To what extent do you enjoy your programme?
5/5
Skills Development
Have you learnt any new skills or developed existing skills?
5/5
Structure and Support
How well organised/structured is your programme?
4/5
How much support do you receive from your employer?
5/5
How much support do you receive from your training provider when working towards your qualifications?
4/5
How well do you feel that your qualification (through your training provider) helps you to perform better in your role?
5/5
Are there extra-curricular activities to get involved in at your work? (For example, any social activities, sports teams, or even professional networking events.)
3/5
Recommendations & Advice
Would you recommend HSBC to a friend?
Yes
Why?
Strong development and learning: structured training, professional qualifications (including apprenticeships), mentoring, and clear pathways to progress.
Global scale and mobility: opportunities to work with international teams, learn how global banking operates, and potentially move roles/locations over time.Inclusive culture: a focus on valuing difference, employee networks, and an environment where different perspectives are encouraged.
Stability and responsibility: a well-established organisation with a strong emphasis on risk management, doing the right thing, and long-term decision-making.
Variety of careers: broad options across Technology, Data, Operations, Risk, Compliance, Product, and Customer-facing roles—so you can pivot as your interests develop
Global scale and mobility: opportunities to work with international teams, learn how global banking operates, and potentially move roles/locations over time.Inclusive culture: a focus on valuing difference, employee networks, and an environment where different perspectives are encouraged.
Stability and responsibility: a well-established organisation with a strong emphasis on risk management, doing the right thing, and long-term decision-making.
Variety of careers: broad options across Technology, Data, Operations, Risk, Compliance, Product, and Customer-facing roles—so you can pivot as your interests develop
What tips or advice would you give to others applying to HSBC?
Do your homework on the role and business area: read the job description closely and map your examples to the skills it asks for (teamwork, analysis, customer focus, delivery, risk awareness).
Use a clear STAR structure (Situation, Task, Action, Result): keep it specific, quantify outcomes where you can, and be honest about what you did.
Use a clear STAR structure (Situation, Task, Action, Result): keep it specific, quantify outcomes where you can, and be honest about what you did.
