Ulster Bank to create 24 new contact centre apprenticeships for young people

  • Ulster Bank announced it will launch 24 Belfast-based apprentice roles to young people aged 16-24 and will be rolled out in waves throughout 2021.

    The programme is part of 150 apprenticeships across the UK announced by the bank's parent company, NatWest.

    The apprentices will be part of Ulster Bank's customer helpline team, which has expanded during the Covid-19 pandemic.

    The bank had a dedicated support line to people aged over 70, but that has now been extended to over 60s, and its dedicated NHS staff line is also now to include social care workers.

    The apprentices will join a two-week preparation and bootcamp followed by work experience within the bank’s contact centre.

    The bootcamp will offer a combination of pastoral support, employment skills, and personal and professional opportunities, and will be in partnership with Leadership Though Sport and Business (LTSB), a social mobility charity.

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    Ulster Bank said the apprenticeships are to "support young people facing barriers in their early career, giving them permanent jobs and the tools and support to succeed".

    It added that Belfast has been selected as an area where youth unemployment is an issue and the impact of Covid-19 has hit young people disproportionately.

    The bank will focus on support in particular for those identified as being eligible for free school meals, live in areas of deprivation and face multiple barriers to employment and career opportunities.

    Joanne Wilson, Customer Experience Lead at Ulster Bank said: “We are really pleased, as part of NatWest, to be able to create these opportunities in Belfast and to announce them as part of National Careers Week."

    RELATED: £500k funding announced for NI apprenticeships

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    Niamh is a Sync NI writer with a previous background of working in FinTech and financial crime. She has a special interest in sports and emerging technologies. To connect with Niamh, feel free to send her an email or connect on Twitter.

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