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Barclays announces new apprenticeships for London offices

09/02/2012 09:02:35

A new apprenticeship programme is being launched in April by Barclays Retail and Business Banking at its London offices.

The scheme will create 1,000 new positions not just at its bases in the capital, but also in cities including Manchester, Birmingham, Liverpool and Leeds.

Rather than focusing on qualifications and experience, Barclays wants to provide a boost to young people hoping to get into the financial services sector by looking at attitude and aptitude.

“We are really excited about this programme because it will give many young people their vital first job opportunity, which they can then go on to develop into rewarding long-term careers,” commented chief executive of Barclays Retail and Business Banking Antony Jenkins.

Applicants who make it through the interviews will train for a year and be placed in a permanent role. Qualifications such as BTEC Awards in Customer Service and competency certifications will also be studied for.

Barclays’ main offices can be found at 1 and 2 Churchill Place in Canary Wharf.

The announcement by Barclays comes after Apprenticeship Week was launched at Channel 4’s London offices by business secretary Vince Cable.

Indeed, his colleague John Hayes, the skills minister, said he was “delighted” that Barclays was investing time and money into creating job opportunities in the financial services sector for young people.

“Creating a highly skilled workforce that can take on the best in the world means seeing apprenticeships as an access pathway to the professions.”

Businesses with London offices have especially been encouraging when it comes to the development of young people in the workplace. Mayor of the capital Boris Johnson said his goal is to see around 100,000 apprenticeships made available by the end of this year.

By autumn of last year, more than 40,000 roles had been created in London offices over the past 12 months.

Posted by Emma Davies

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