Co-op strive to show ethical banking for graduates
The Co-operative Bank are determined to lead the way for graduate recruitment in the sector after the confidence of young people in the industry is at an all time low.
The Co-operative Bank, not without its own troubles in recent years, is determined to shake up the perception of the industry in the eyes of graduates. They are looking for take on graduates in departments across their organisation and show that the financial sector is not as bad as many graduates think.
Long has it been understood that the Co-operative values of the organisation are compatible in the market driven capitalist 21st century, with the organisation believing firmly in ethical banking and ethical investments. The Bank takes this seriously enough to proudly proclaim they have turned down £1 billion worth of business between 1992 and 2013.
This is what graduates can expect to experience when they apply to the Co-operative's Banking Leadership Scheme or their Finance Leadership Scheme. While they also like to see these values shared across all aspects of their company, like their Digital Leadership Programme and their IT Leadership Programmes.
Remarking on the experience at the Co-operative Bank, Emma Summerfield, a Economic and Social History graduate from the University of Liverpool has been quoted saying 'I was so happy that my first placement was in one of our branches where I could really see the Co-operative values come to life. My new colleagues were so welcoming and friendly I can't imagine being anywhere else now.'
While Jordan Burnett, Mathematical Physics graduate from the University of Edinburgh, highlighted the relatively flat management structure in place at the bank. He said 'The level of exposure to the very highest levels of the business really is phenomenal and not something you'll easily find on other banking graduate schemes.'
Economics graduate from the University of Sheffield, Jagvale Singh Swalley, was pleased to see the impact they had made at the bank. Swalley said 'Since joining The Co-operative Bank as a Graduate Trainee, I have actively contributed to a number of large-scale projects, adding real value and actually helping to achieve the Bank's strategic plan. In addition, I'm currently working towards a professional qualification. It really is an amazing place to build a career.'
By James Howell
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View all of the Co-operative Bank's roles here