It’s National Apprenticeship Week across the UK, celebrating all things apprenticeships and building and developing talent for the future. Castle Trust Bank hired two Apprentices last year, in addition to supporting a number of existing colleagues through the attendance of training courses. This helps develop the skills and knowledge required for a rewarding career, enabling businesses to develop a talented workforce that is equipped with future-ready skills.
Amelia and Hubert joined us at the end of last year in our Technology team in Basingstoke, and have been fully embedded into Castle Trust Bank. You can read more on their individual stories below. We also have some other existing colleagues in Finance and Technology completing various qualifications including AAT and Leadership.
We are currently looking to provide more opportunities for our existing colleagues across the bank in addition to hiring further external talent via the apprenticeship scheme.
“My time at Castle Trust Bank is different from college and for me it is a better experience than going to university as you get the work experience as well as studying.
I chose to be a Business Analyst Apprentice because I am interested in the business aspect and after completing my GCSEs and attending college, I wanted to go down the BA route.
I wanted to join CTB as they had good external reviews and it looked a great place to work. I previously worked in a care home whilst at college so have never been in an office environment before. It looked like a challenge, and it has been amazing since joining.
The support from my manager has given me right amount of work but not overloaded me showing how the system Polaris works but also leaving me to learn and complete my own tasks. Another colleague is helping me out and giving guidance when needed as well as another member of the team on the Property side of my role. I feel so welcomed and I am learning so many new things. I have settled in really quickly.
After my course is completed, I want to progress through Technology and carry on being a BA and hopefully become a senior in my role and continue to being challenged.”
Amelia – Business Analyst
Joined September 2021
“I chose IT Support as I have always been passionate about IT since I was young and then going to college, they didn’t offer an IT course, so I studied Business Marketing. My IT Apprenticeship course is aimed at IT in general with desktop support as one of the subjects as well as Networking and Azure Cloud.
The first interview I had Castle Trust Bank felt welcoming and easy to talk to the team. The team have been great, and the support given has helped me in my role. I have picked things up on the job and although the team is busy it helped me to be thrown in at the deep end. My colleagues have been a great help day-to-day. My Team Leader has sat down with me around my development and looking at what I need to work on as well as how I want my role to develop.
The external apprenticeship coach helps keep me on track and guides me through any challenges as well as looking at health and safety, DSEs and mental health supporting me with working in an office as it’s not something I have done before.
My end goal is to continue with my role and progress and grow with the company. I have already set-up a training session with the Security Team as this is a field of IT I am really keen on and they are willing to guide me with this next step.
I would definitely say to a new Apprentice look out for opportunities at CTB as the knowledge the company has is great as well as being a great place to work. My friends have said they are jealous that I am working at CTB and all want to join!”
Hubert – Desktop Support Analyst
Joined September 2021