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Graduates

We are the UK's only high street bank with a customer led ethical policy.

The Co-operative Banking Group is unique. We are the UK's only high street bank with a customer led ethical policy. We are also enjoying strong growth and making a huge investment in our banking transformation programme. What is more, we want to become the UK's most admired financial services business.

So when you join The Co-operative Banking Group on our Graduate Development Programme, you will be assured of a development journey that has been designed to challenge and stretch you. We will give you the support and experiences that will prepare you for the challenges you will face as one of our future leaders, as well as giving you plenty of scope to prove yourself.

Our recruitment campaign for this year’s intake is now closed.
Please visit ‘Search and Apply' for any other suitable vacancies or register your interest.  

Finance Programme

The Finance Department has a key role to play in The Co-operative Banking Group becoming the UK’s most admired financial services business. So if you’re considering a career in finance and have the ambition to become a senior manager driving the progress of our business, then this is the place to be. You will have every opportunity to shine, and, what’s more, you’ll also gain external qualifications as this programme is accredited by both ACCA and CIMA.

As well as a diverse range of activities, we will provide you with a study programme, where trainees are supported financially and in terms of study leave. You’ll work on live business projects and stretch assignments to enhance your on the job and technical learning.

Accountancy Opportunities

We offer opportunities for you to train as accountants and get experience in a full range of finance activities, including financial support and insight into our organisation to underpin your business decisions. You will also be involved in the financial reporting to management, Board, Group and external stakeholders and acquire skills in the development and maintenance of financial reporting systems.

Credit Risk Opportunities

Strong risk management is a fundamental of a successful banking business and we are truly proud of our continuing profitable trading and the support we’ve provided to our customers throughout the recent banking crisis. You’ll work with varied Business areas to develop and deliver innovative models and processes that continue this success, and support our strong customer proposition.

The Programme will give you a broad experience in Credit Risk and bring you into contact with a wide variety of highly experienced colleagues, which, together with formal training where appropriate, will provide a sound basis for you to develop your career within The Co-operative Banking Group.

To apply for this Programme we require that you have (or will have by Summer 2011) a 2:2 in a mathematical or scientific based degree course, and a minimum grade B in GCSE Maths and English.

Business Management Programme

This is a development programme that has been designed to challenge and stretch you. With lots of support, we will prepare you for the challenges you'll face as one of our future leaders, as well as giving you plenty of scope to prove yourself. We’ll help you to create a development path that brings together every aspect of your learning including technical skills and leadership behaviours.

During the programme you gain exposure to and experience in different business areas across the organisation, ranging from a placement in one of our bank branches, managing a team in customer services or supporting the delivery of our new banking system, as well as many other opportunities.

A project you could be involved in would be our Banking Transformation Programme – the move to a new, state of the art, core banking platform. This is not simply a technology overhaul, it is also about improving the customer experience and will play a vital role in achieving our vision.
Your development path will draw together every aspect of your learning, from technical and professional skills training to leadership skills. Essentially everything you'll need to take the business forward.

To apply for this Programme we require that you have (or will have by Summer 2011) a 2:2 degree in any discipline, and a minimum grade B in GCSE Maths and English.

About us

Our vision is to be the UK's most admired financial services business, and to help us do this we follow these principles:

  • We put our members and customers first in all we do.
  • We take personal and social responsibility.
  • Together we will create a great place to work, grow and develop.
  • We strive relentlessly to be faster, better and more successful.
  • We are open and fair and are committed to excellent communication.

Our purpose is to be a pioneering business delivering sustainable financial services for members and society.

The Co-operative Banking Group is part of the Co-operative Group, the UK's largest consumer co-operative. The Co-operative Banking Group is the trading name for the group of businesses that includes The Co-operative Insurance, The Co-operative Investments, The Co-operative Bank (including "smile" internet banking) and Britannia. We put our 6.5 million customers at the centre of everything that we do, offering them a range of financial products.

In 2010 The Co-operative Banking Group outperformed 110 financial institutions from 44 countries to win the Financial Times Sustainable Bank of the Year Award. This recognises our embedded and all-encompassing approach to sustainability, from our green electricity procurement to our groundbreaking customer campaigns. We have shown that an approach, marrying strong ethics with competitiveness can deliver outstanding results.

We have long been at the forefront of ethical finance and investment in the UK. Since 1992, commercial lending has grown to £8bn, yet we have, in line with our customers' ethical concerns, also turned away £1bn of business.

So if you want a career with an ethical and commercial organisation with a clear view of what it wants to be and how it will achieve it, The Co-operative Banking Group is the right place for you to grow and develop. 

Being part of a Commercial Business

The Co-operative Banking Group is an organisation with a proven business plan. We know where we want to be and how to get there. As a graduate, you will make a difference from day one in helping us to achieve some exciting new goals in our unique and challenging business.

Learning and Development

We know that the talents and abilities of our colleagues are fundamental to our success. Therefore, we are committed to maximising the potential of everyone through the provision of learning and development activities.

As a member of our Graduate Development Programme, you will receive the very best training you could wish for, as well as the support of a mentor, sponsorship from senior leaders and a personal development plan to drive your career.

Rewards 

In addition to enjoying a great place to work, grow and develop, you will also benefit from:

  • Highly competitive starting salary with performance based salary reviews.
  • Discretionary bonus.
  • 25 days annual holiday rising by 1 per year to max 30 days.
  • Option to join our contributory pension scheme.
  • Good work-life balance, with our aim to offer colleagues flexibility to help integrate their home and working lives.
  • An interest-free travel season ticket loan.
  • The chance to become a member of the Co-operative Group, which lets you have a say in how the business is run and also gives you access to a special employee member dividend and a range of exclusive offers.
  • An employee assistance programme providing a free and confidential online or telephone based information and counseling service for you and your family.
  • Membership of our Manchester complex Sports and Social club, giving you access to our newly refurbished gym, as well as discounts on theatre and concert tickets.
  • Discounts on various Co-operative products.

What people think about our Graduate Programme 

“I am very excited about the launch of our new The Co-operative Banking Group graduate development programme. We have worked closely with our colleagues in The Co-operative Group to build on the success of their graduate programme. The programme has the full sponsorship of the Executive Team, who view this as one of the ways we continue to attract fresh talent into our business: fresh talent that will develop into our leaders of the future, role model our values and help us achieve our vision of being the UK's most admired financial services business.

You will be joining at a really exciting time and we are making great strides towards our vision. We have been recognised by the Financial Times as the 'World's Most Sustainable Bank' due to our hard work in the field of sustainability, and we continue with our ambitious plans to offer a compelling co-operative alternative in financial services.

We are looking for graduates who live our values and who also have the commercial drive and ambition to take the organisation forward. You will be given the support and development you need to develop your career and fulfil your potential.”

Karen Moir, Director of Organisational Development

 

“You get lots of personal support here. The Co-operative Banking Group cares for its staff and its customers - it's not just profit driven. My line manager is always approachable, and you're always encouraged to move around, gain new experience and develop your career.”

James, Physics Graduate

 

“A lot of Graduate Schemes sound the same, but I wanted to work for a really ethical business. That's why I joined The Co-operative Banking Group. We still work hard though, and there is always someone available when you need some support.”

Victoria, Law Graduate

 

“There is so much opportunity here to do as much as you are capable of. You are joining a company that is continually looking to improve, and your role can be as big as you want it to be. If you are capable, do a good job and produce effective outputs, you'll get the chance to shine by making a real difference.”

Andrew, Business Studies Graduate

 

“I've had lots of varied placements in the business, and now I'm working in the Corporate Communications team. My peers on the programme and my mentor were a great support, and if you work hard you can get great opportunities too.”

Melissa, Accounting and Finance Graduate

 

“I enjoy working here because I wanted to progress my financial career and gain CIMA in the North West, and there is so much you can do if you want to work for an ethical organisation. For example, I have volunteered to teach children about what it means to act ethically - not just in terms of being part of the world's most sustainable bank, but also about what you can do in your local community”

Jonathan, Economics and Politics Graduate

 

How to apply

Please apply if you can demonstrate:

  • Belief in and affinity with our values.
  • Ability to change and adapt.
  • Focus on putting the customer first.
  • Excellent team working skills.
  • Effective communication skills.
  • Analytical thinking and excellent problem solving capability.
  • Minimum 2:2 degree in a mathematical or technical discipline.