Aldermore, an award-winning bank in England and Wales, uses apprenticeships as a key part of its business strategy.
The business has offered a range of apprenticeships across almost every department, including apprenticeships in accounting, business administration, customer service, team leadership and operations management with Damar Training.
The apprenticeships are aimed at both entry-level roles for new hire apprentices, and existing colleagues with more experience, and since partnering with Damar in 2015, Aldermore has seen great results. Not only have they boosted colleague retention, but they have also supported colleague progression and helped the business achieve a high engagement with employees.
Management apprenticeships
In the last two years, Aldermore has upskilled 16 aspiring team leaders and managers with Damar’s management apprenticeships.
Two apprentices who have recently completed the team leader apprenticeship are Eloise Potts and Sherylene McFarlane. Both are great examples of the impact that Damar’s management programmes can have on individuals and the employers they work for.
Eloise started her career in mortgage underwriting, before becoming a business development executive, and setting her sights on a future leadership position. To support her knowledge and learn new skills, Eloise embraced the opportunity to gain a professional qualification, fully supported by her managers.
Eloise said: “Completing my team leader apprenticeship with Damar has allowed me to progress in my career. During my apprenticeship I became our team coach and just three months after achieving my distinction, I was successful in securing a promotion to relationship manager. I found the self-awareness module incredibly valuable to develop myself personally and set myself achievable goals. I now feel confident to lead and use various leadership styles. I am excited to continue to use all the transferable skills from this apprenticeship throughout my career.
I can’t thank Damar enough for the support provided throughout, especially my coach. I am also incredibly thankful to Aldermore for investing in colleagues’ development and giving me the opportunity to complete this.”
Francesca Webster (pictured left), Talent Management Partner at Aldermore, said: “Eloise is a shining example of apprenticeship success at Aldermore. She worked so hard to achieve the best grade she could and took advantage of all opportunities she was given. She was awarded a distinction at the end of her course, and it was very well deserved. We are also incredibly proud that Eloise received the Damar Apprentice Champion Award.”
Sherylene, Senior Financial Assistance Advisor at Aldermore, also received a distinction for her team leader apprenticeship.
Julie, Sherylene’s coach, said: “Sherylene scored an amazing 100% to get a distinction. From the way Sherylene was able to talk about how she has implemented the management models and techniques she has learnt, I have no doubt that Aldermore will massively benefit from her improved knowledge, skills and behaviours.”
Sherylene said: “I can’t thank Julie enough for all her help and support over the last 18 months. I am over the moon with the result. All the hard work was worth it. I truly believe this apprenticeship has shaped me into a better person in both my work and personal life, but especially with my colleagues. I know they have benefited from me being able to better understand their learning styles and adapt my approach accordingly in order to support their development.”
Find out more
If you’d like to find out more about our team leader and operations manager programmes, please visit our management apprenticeships page.