Newport-based Monmouthshire Building Society has launched the MBS Community Academy, which aims to create real career opportunities for individuals in our communities.
MBS Community Academy offers up to six paid entry-level internships over 12 months, providing applicants with the necessary skills and knowledge to launch their careers.
After completing the internship, applicants have the opportunity to apply for all permanent positions in the club.
The academy is open to everyone over the age of 16, with no upper age limit.
The society has also removed the requirement to apply for at least five GCSEs and supports potential applicants throughout the process.
Beverley Flood, Head of Human Resources at Monmouthshire Building Society, said: “We are committed to building a thriving workforce that represents our communities, but we often struggle to connect with the talent we know is there.
“People in our communities have told us that they don’t think financial services are for people like them, they don’t have the qualifications to apply, or that the application process is too complicated. We have listened to this feedback and created the MBS Community Academy to address these challenges directly. We seize the opportunity to break down the real and imagined barriers people face when trying to find work.”
Chief Operating Officer Dawn Gunter said, “The MBS Community Academy is a great initiative that delivers on several of our strategic commitments, supports inclusion in our communities, and brings to life our core mission of helping members, communities and colleagues succeed.”
The club is holding two open days on August 3 and August 31 from 10am to 3pm, when anyone interested can drop by the club’s branch office in John Frost Square, Newport.
Prospective applicants have the opportunity to meet the recruitment teams and have an informal discussion. Formal interviews or long application procedures are not organized, applicants are evaluated in other ways.
The club’s recruitment team was at the Pill Millennium Center this month to discuss the opportunities offered by the Academy to young people and their families.
Rusna Begum, chief executive of the inclusion charity KidCare4U, runs the centre’s community events.
He said: “This is an innovative program at MBS that demonstrates that there are alternative pathways to employment and real career prospects outside of the academic route. I am excited to support and promote the opportunities available in our communities.”
The MBS Community Academy is now open for expressions of interest until 1 September 2024, with academy colleagues expected to join from September 2024 to September 2025.
Candidates can also register their interest in the Academy at monbs.com/careers or by emailing [email protected].