27 April 2016
Belfast key location in bank’s Graduate Scheme
Bank of Ireland UK has announced it is recruiting up to 15 graduates to its Graduate Scheme for 2016, the largest intake since the scheme launched in 2013 and more than double the number of entrants to the scheme in less than three years. Three have been recruited from Northern Ireland.
Belfast has been identified as one of the key UK locations for the programme’s participants alongside Bristol and London. The scheme gives graduates eight month placements across different sectors of the business over a period of two years.
Working alongside senior members of staff, the graduates are given specific responsibilities and the freedom to run projects that they go on to present to the executive team.
The retention rate of graduates once they finish the scheme is almost 100 percent which is a testament to how well the programme is received.
Claire McGuinness, a recent participant is now working full-time at the bank’s Headquarters in Belfast. She says:
“Moving from Hong Kong to London to start my graduate scheme at Bank of Ireland UK, was daunting, but the support I received whilst on the programme made me settle in almost immediately. The culture is overwhelmingly friendly and welcoming.
“I was able to experience a full flavour of the business, working in various departments in Belfast and London, including the Current Accounts product team, UK Treasury and Operations and Change Northern Ireland. I really enjoyed my time with the UK Treasury team on the programme and ended up taking a permanent role with UK Treasury in Belfast! Moving to Belfast has been a great decision. I’m really enjoying living here whilst working for a great business and furthering my career.”
Commenting on the graduate offering, Amy Burke, HR Director for Bank of Ireland UK said:
“We have worked hard to develop a programme that attracts the best talent and offers the best possible foundation for graduates stepping into the world of commerce and banking. Our graduates develop a whole range of skills, from strategic thinking and problem solving to project management and developing commercial acumen and are a core part of what makes us successful.
We are delighted to be increasing the number of places for 2015/16, and to be able to recruit high quality graduates from Northern Ireland, and we are committed to increasing our intake year on year.”
Bank of Ireland has an ongoing commitment to responsible business, which includes providing a steady level of great opportunities for UK graduates.
Notes to editor:
Bank of Ireland Group recently launched its second Responsible Business Report, a comprehensive picture of what happened across the Group in 2015 from the perspective of the bank’s key stakeholders: customers, communities, colleagues and the environment.