Saagar H.

From A-Levels to Risk Apprentice through an Inspiring Gap Year Journey

During my gap year, I had the opportunity to work in a branch environment within banking, which was incredibly valuable for my professional development. I enhanced my communication and teamwork skills while effectively interacting with customers, boosting my confidence in customer service. Additionally, working with a diverse team helped me build strong relationships and expand my professional network, which was crucial for securing my apprenticeship. Effectively, I was eager to learn more about the strategies that we employ to protect our 30 million customers as one of the UK's leading financial services groups, deepening my understanding of banking security and fuelling my passion for a risk apprenticeship.

Risk Apprentice | Passionate About Financial Security

In my day-to-day role, I assess commercial client portfolios for actual or potential risks to maintain compliance in line with group wide policies. This includes collaborating with teams like the Anti-Money Laundering due diligence team to report financial crime risks and to monitor compliance standards. Every application ends up being completely different and I particularly enjoy that each day brings new challenges and new learning opportunities.

Empowering Change

My main motivation for working at LBG as an apprentice is to be an active changemaker, driving finance as a force for good. For instance, our recent transformation has enabled us to reach a significant milestone of twenty million app users and launch our refreshed mobile app to support our customers with their banking needs. As customer expectations evolve, LBG is ready to respond with more personalisation, making it easier for customers to interact with us and build trust in our relationships. Everyone at LBG is value-led and prioritises our customers' needs as we transform, staying true to our mission and purpose of being at the forefront of their journeys and helping Britain prosper. This is what drives me every day at LBG.

Growth, Communication, Courage and Curiosity

Growth: Be open to every opportunity to learn and develop your skills. Seek feedback, tackle new challenges and remember to embrace change; this mindset will help you grow in your role and advance in your career journey. Communication: Effective communication is crucial. Share your findings and insights clearly with your team and build strong relationships with clients. Good communication allows effective collaboration and keeps everyone aligned to meet the common goal. Courage and curiosity: Speak up about potential risks or concerns; being curious and challenging the norm can lead to the creation of better processes, all leading to a safer and more efficient financial environment.

Championing Engagement and Networking as a Social Hub Lead

Becoming a Social Hub Lead at LBG has been my greatest achievement so far as I am passionate about building a strong and collaborative professional environment. My experience in my current role has equipped me with the skills to manage projects effectively and foster teamwork. By leading with empathy and clear communication, I have been able to create a supportive atmosphere with my team where everyone feels valued and motivated to network with each other and make the most of their journeys at Lloyds Banking Group.