Lloyds Banking Group is to recruit 100 new apprentices, many of whom will be trained to man its ground-breaking internet centres.
Christopher Jackson, Lloyds’ Essex spokesman, said: “The new drive for apprentices follows Lloyds’s previous apprentice programmes, which have so far created 2,210 apprenticeship positions.
“Our higher apprenticeships offer some of the brightest students a viable alternative to university, allowing young people to earn while they learn on the job.”
The scheme will give young people experience across a range of departments, including commercial and wealth, relationship manage-ment, IT, change management, finance, risk, and marketing
Mr Jackson said: “The 2015 apprenticeship scheme will help to secure the business a new generation of aspiring young professionals, who have the ability to readily develop the key competences required to quickly move into a management position.
“This approach allows the bank to build a diverse workforce to better represent and serve its customers.
“We know we are building a truly motivated and highly-skilled, customer-centred workforce.”
Among the roles undertaken by the new wave of recruits will be the management of Lloyds’ new town centre drop-in sites.
These sites will replace the traditional branch environment with a new type of internet centre, allowing customers immediate access to online personal services.
Mr Jackson said: “Apprentices who take up the IT option will also be able to complete a full honours degree alongside their employment.”
Giving his endorsement to the Lloyds scheme, the Government’s Skills Minister Nick Boles said: “Apprenticeship schemes, like the ones just announced by Lloyds, make absolute business sense, while providing life changing opportun-ities for young people in Essex.
“I would urge employers of all sizes and types to follow Lloyds lead and to consider how they can make apprenticeships part of their growth strategy.”
Full information is available via: http://www.lloydsbankinggroupapprentices.com