They’re in the money ...business
In the fast lane
- Name:
- Gareth Thorpe
- Age:
- 20
- Job title:
- Head Start Trainee
- Employer:
- Lloyds TSB
- Route in:
- School leaver - Head Start scheme
“The thrill of it all, the opportunities, career fulfilment and ultimately the prospect of dealing with exciting, high profile business clients pulled me towards finance. The idea of nurturing a business with a turnover up to £2million and helping it succeed really appealed.
“Part of my training is to experience the whole business. This will give me a bigger appreciation of how the jigsaw all slots together. I’m currently on rotation in the Area Directors Office, which provides a viewpoint over the whole operation. Any ‘top-down’ communications filters through here, so my job is to personalise it and cascade the core messages.
“Each placement lasts about six months, so I’m getting far more than a quick snapshot. I’ll cover the staff support unit and a customer service role before hopefully moving into a business management or team leader position. There’s loads of freedom in finance to make decisions, plus the support to help you deliver. The environment has definitely lived up to my expectations. Schemes like this are vital, especially for people that don’t want to go down the university path. And I’m still able to gain a recognised qualification, with the company supporting me to complete a Diploma in Financial Services through the Institute of Financial Service.
“The emphasis in this business is service. I’m getting to really understand what customers want, which should put me on the fast track to success.”
It’s good to listen
- Name:
- Paul Frost
- Age:
- 20
- Job title:
- Commercial Manager
- Employer:
- HSBC
- Route in:
- Accountancy & Economics degree, Cardiff University - Management scheme - Worked up through each step, taking two years before securing first management post
“The attraction of commercial banking for me was the variety of things you can learn and do. In the short time I’ve been here, I have worked in seven different locations and done 12 different roles. The number of facets is incredible. If you’re driven and prepared to work there are no limits. You can definitely make it to the top.
“Having the grounding of how the bank really works is a massive advantage. My training started as a cashier taking in the cheques and cash. It’s a valuable learning experience. It cemented the importance of service skills in this environment.
“My job now involves dealing with the personal needs of nearly 100 commercial clients. In theory, I can help with the banking and financial needs of a business, from concept or purchase through to ongoing finance and their plans for the future. Once I’ve helped a business get established, I support them in the day-to-day. I help them through the myriad of over 400 product choices.
“Although sales are important, it’s not a pushy sales role. Effectively, I’m the hub of the wheel, gathering information and then passing it to the right expert. My philosophy is to let the client talk for the first hour. Having listened, I then spend about five minutes matching the right products to their needs.”