Supporting Banks and Training Providers

Apprenticeships in the UK offer a great opportunity for both employers and individuals by offering a combination of work experience and structured learning.

The Chartered Banker Institute has been closely involved with the development of current apprenticeships and has a proud heritage of assuring professional and educational standards for more than 140 years. It is uniquely positioned to work alongside banks and training providers as a qualification provider. The Institute offers:

  • Qualifications that are integral elements of a range of banking and finance apprenticeships
  • Advice and guidance for banking organisations that are developing an apprenticeship provision.

Retail & Business Banking Professional Qualifications Aligned to Apprenticeship Programmes

Many apprenticeships include a professional qualification as part of the requirements for completion of the overall apprenticeship. As a professional qualification provider, the Institute has a number of its qualifications approved for use within appropriate banking / financial services apprenticeships.

  • Level 3 Senior Financial Services Customer Adviser - Professional Banker Certificate, Professional Banker Diploma, Certificate in Complaint Handling
  • Level 6 Financial Services Professional – Associate Chartered Banker Diploma, Advanced Diploma in Banking and Leadership in a Digital Age
  • Level 6 Senior Compliance / Risk Specialist - Certificate in Climate Risk
  • Level 7 Senior Investment / Commercial Banking Professional - Advanced Diploma in Banking and Leadership in a Digital Age

Support for Employers

The Institute is uniquely positioned to help employers develop their apprenticeship strategy. We take an open consultative approach which includes:

  • Helping employers identify which standard(s) and training providers are most appropriate to support development needs
  • Existing working relationships with major training providers
  • Working with employers and training providers to develop innovative and flexible learning support
  • Developing value-added activities to help integrate qualification learning with work experience
  • Aligning apprenticeship schemes with professional standards and providing clear development pathways and continuing professional development.

Next Steps

For further information on how Apprenticeships can work in your organisation, please contact Mark Roberts, Head of Educational Partnerships [email protected]

Additional Information

What is an Apprenticeship?

A UK Apprenticeship is an attractive proposition as it offers individuals the opportunity to ‘earn while you learn’ as opposed to incurring debt in Further or Higher education followed by the uncertainty of finding employment. While an apprenticeship does not provide a guarantee of job, it does offer significant advantages by combining the acquisition of experience with gaining a recognised qualification. From the employer perspective, apprenticeships offer the opportunity to access a diverse talent pool and identify future talent in a manner aligned to Government policy. Additionally, apprenticeships can be offered to existing employees as an opportunity to develop competence in specific roles, fill skills-gaps and aid succession planning.

In overview, apprenticeships:

  • Offer a structured programme of learning and experience, lasting a minimum of 12 months with at least 20% off-the-job training; 
  • lead to competence in a selected occupational standard;
  • develops additional transferable skills, including English and maths; 
  • develops the apprentice to the level required to apply for professional recognition by the Institute.

The Advantages of Using the Institute’s Professional Qualifications

The Institute’s qualifications underpin a range of banking and financial services Apprenticeship programmes, which are also aligned to our membership grades.

Completion of an Apprenticeship programme that utilises Institute qualifications will give a clear progression route that will enable individuals to access Institute membership and Continuing Professional Development (CPD) and progress to further professional or postgraduate qualifications and, potentially, to attain full Chartered Banker status. 
 
The Institute is delighted to be working with employers on Apprenticeships and welcomes the opportunity to broaden the appeal of careers in banking. From the employer perspective, apprenticeships are a great way to realise potential talent by offering individuals the chance to gain priceless work experience and also attain respected professional qualifications without incurring debt.

These qualifications support apprentices seeking aspirational careers in banking, and provide recognised qualifications and membership of the Chartered Banker Institute. Apprentices will gain a qualification that covers basic banking principles including the regulatory environment and the key banking disciplines of credit and lending, and risk management. With varying optional units, programmes can be tailored to individual roles for many areas of banking. The Professional Banker Certificate within Level 3 fully meets the knowledge and skills requirements of the Foundation Standard for Professional Bankers.

Apprenticeship Funding

The Apprenticeship Levy

  1. In meeting the target of 3 million apprentices starts by 2020, funding needed to be considered. Accordingly, a levy scheme was introduced in May 2017, where employers with a wage bill of above £3 million are required to pay 0.5% of the bill into centralised levy funds.
  2. The money that an employer puts into the levy can be utilised to fund apprenticeships without significant limitation. The emphasis is on employers big and small to make effective use of levy fees. Put simply, you can get back what you put in through integration of apprenticeships.
  3. The levy is collected by HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) through Pay As You Earn (PAYE),  payable alongside income tax and National Insurance.

Find out more on Apprenticeship funding including payment of the Apprenticeship levy.