Beal’s continued relationship with Shawbrook Bank saw eight Year 12 students invited to Shawbrook Bank’s rather impressive new offices at 40 Leadenhall Street EC3A along with Year 12 students from Saracens School and St. Bonaventure’s School. In addition to the visit to the bank’s offices the eight students were also given a Teams interview on the Wednesday with a view to some of the eight having future work experience with the bank. The offices at 40 Leadenhall Street with a rooftop garden and downstairs cinema understandably left some of the students favouring a future as an apprentice rather than a university student to a greater degree than was the case before the Shawbrook Bank trip.
Over the course of the visit a number of apprentices at the bank (including Beal alumna Hibbah Chattun) gave their advice to the Year 12 students as to what was required to be an apprentice and also what the life of an apprentice was likely to entail. Various apprentices with various different roles within Shawbrook Bank circulated between the tables and gave their take on the questions posed by the students.
Several of the students commented that they realised during the trip that they had previously over-emphasised the importance of a Level 6 degree apprenticeship. To receive a Level 4 apprenticeship with a well-respected company offers a very clear path to careers progression with industry experience.
A big thank you to everyone at Shawbrook Bank and Future First both for the opportunity of the visit and also for the Teams interviews. I sincerely hope that we are able to arrange something very similar next academic year.
Mr. Matheson – May 2025
‘…I learned a number of valuable tips when applying for apprenticeships, for example reading a company’s annual report when researching an organisation and I really enjoyed the tour of the office.’ AA
‘I had a great experience visiting Shawbrook Bank with a full insight on how a banking system works. Thank you for the opportunity to visit Shawbrook Bank.’ NH
‘The trip to Shawbrook bank gave me a great insight into what it is like to work in a professional environment. It allowed me to learn more about apprenticeships, potential ways to acquire them and the skills that most employers are looking for in potential apprentices.’ RK
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