Starting at Rathbones...

I work with 6 other people, and I know all the other apprentices will say the same thing, but I honestly have the best team! They have made me feel so settled already and I am so happy. I love having my own desk, a computer with two monitors! My own phone and spinning chair! I even enjoy making the tea and coffee as Rathbones have the coolest hot and cold water taps.

So far I have learnt how to open new accounts using the computer software, but I know that there is still a lot more to come. As I type I am about to be trained on SIPP’s. What is a SIPP? I shall find out and tell you next month!

Outside of the 9-5 hours, I was luckily enough invited to attend the Merseyside Young Professionals Ball at the Crowne Plaza hotel as part of the Rathbones table. I was extremely nervous about going as I had never done anything like it before and I had only been there two weeks and knew nobody. Nerves soon lifted as everybody made me feel very welcome and comfortable. I got to talk to people I never would of otherwise and now I have a few more people I can say hello to around the building. I really enjoyed my evening and I even tried my first ever sip of wine (which I didn’t like)!

The apprentices have also entered as a team to a Rathbones charity quiz night. We came fairly close to the bottom, but we all had a good evening. That is another thing I really like about Rathbones, there is always something going on to raise money for charity.

Overall, I honestly couldn’t be happier here at Rathbones. This first month has flown by and I cannot wait to see what else is to come.

So how did I get the apprenticeship?

One day when I was coming out of an A-Level geography exam, my head of sixth form called me to her office and passed on the application form to me. I immediately jumped on the opportunity. I knew about apprenticeships, but the fact it was at Rathbones was even better. They have been to my school many times to talk about the company, so I was aware of them. In the past, I have also done work experience at Rensburg Sheppards (now Investec), and my uncle works as a stockbroker and so hearing him talk about his work has meant an interest in the industry has always been there.

I sent off my application form, telling them as much as I could about myself. When I found out I had been shortlisted I was over the moon, but the fact that I would have to attend a whole week’s assessment programme was a bit daunting!

The week began at Rathbones, with about 15 of us nervously sitting in Rathbone Hall. The building is absolutely beautiful and walking in every day I don’t think will ever get old. We were told that we were going to be delivering a 10 minute presentation to 3 staff members on how we would spend as well as invest £100,000. How I was going to speak for ten minutes was my main concern! Tuesday and Wednesday was mainly preparation, and Thursday was presentation day. When I was about to go in, I was told it would not just be three members of staff, but 8 senior members, including the deputy COO!! It went by in a flash, as did the interview on the Friday. A much deserved McFlurry was needed that afternoon.

I was rang up the following Tuesday and was offered the position as an Operations Apprentice. There were three departments to choose from: Operations, IT and Tax & Trust - and I had picked Operations! I was so happy. I was told that for the first six months I would be working with CSD. CSD? What? But I know now that this is client static data.

When you finish your A-levels, the normal thing to do at my school is to go on to university...

When you finish your A-levels, the normal thing to do at my school is to go on to university. “Oxford or Cambridge?” would be the biggest problem that people faced. There was very little information on any alternative routes, but what I have chosen to do instead has been the best decision that I have ever made.

My name is Amy Kirby and I am one of 6 apprentices that have started at Rathbones in Liverpool at the beginning of October. It is the first scheme they have ever done of its kind – usually taking on graduates. This blog is going to essentially be a diary of my time here at Rathbones, hopefully giving an insight as to what life is like here, as well as showing that there are options other than university.

The apprenticeship is working as a partnership between Rathbones and Archbishop Beck College. We aim to achieve an NVQ in business and administration by the end of the first year, and to complete the Investment Operations Certificate by the end of the second. The IOC is a qualification I know is essential if you want to work in the financial industry.