Newcastle Building Society has hired two Prince’s Trust apprentices as part of its four year partnership with The Prince’s Trust, creating an opportunity for training, development and a future career with the region’s largest building society.
Kayleigh Douglas from Walker and Rob Carter from Ashington participated in a two week work experience scheme at Newcastle Building Society as part of the Prince’s Trust Programme.
Having impressed with their engagement and willingness to learn, and following formal interviews, both participants joined the Society. Kayleigh joined as a Software Development Apprentice to work in the Society’s market leading technology and service subsidiary, Newcastle Strategic Solutions. Rob also joined as a Customer Adviser Apprentice at the Society’s Portland House branch.
The Society has been working alongside the Prince’s Trust to host five young participants who joined the business for two weeks work experience in March when they spent time finding out about the range and variety of roles across the business.
Kayleigh, 19, said: “Gaining this opportunity to be an Apprentice after completing work experience at Newcastle Building Society, means a lot to me because of my strong desire to work within software development. It was such a valuable experience to be a part of the company’s culture and values. I am delighted and really looking forward to being a part of a workplace.”
Rob, 21, said: “Prince’s trust Work Experience was a really good experience because it allowed me to gain a better understanding of what a building society is and just how involved they are in the community. It helped me open my eyes as to what I wanted to do as a job and will help me achieve that.”
Andrew Haigh, Newcastle Building Society’s chief executive, commented: “As the North East’s largest building society we believe in the talent and potential of young people within our region. Despite initially planning to offer just one Apprenticeship, Kayleigh and Rob both made fantastic impressions with colleagues across the Society, so we were thrilled to be able to offer them both Apprenticeships, in software development and our branch network.
“We are also pleased to be continuing with our support for the other participants involved in the work experience programme. They will be welcomed into the Society once a month on a one-on-one basis as part of an extended programme to help them gain even more valuable work experience.
“Our ambitious plans for the future involve increasing the number of apprenticeships we offer, and we’ve already increased our apprenticeship opportunities from five in 2017 to ten in 2018 with a further increase to 15 in 2019. All our apprentices receive a supported tailored development programme and we are also committed to paying our apprentices the ‘Real Living Wage. ”
