A little about Danny’s apprenticeship…
Apprenticeship Title
Compliance and Risk Officer Level 3
Job title and employer
Product Risk Analyst at Gatehouse Bank
What are 3 skills you’ve learned so far?
Risk identification, assessment and management.
Presenting to large audiences and chairing meetings.
Knowledge and insight of Financial Services regulations.
What are 3 interests outside of work?
Teaching and performing music
Mountain hiking and climbing
Running and fitness
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What inspired you to choose an apprenticeship as your next step?
Before choosing to apply for an apprenticeship, I felt overwhelmed with the amount of choices for what to do after finishing A-Levels, and knowing what was the 'right' path to take. A lot of my peers were going to University, but with so many different courses available across so many different locations across the country, I didn't know where to start! While I was studying Finance at A-Level, I attended a workshop hosted by Visionpath which introduced the apprenticeship scheme at Gatehouse Bank. This opened my eyes to the opportunity of starting to gain practical experience in full-time work in the Finance industry, while also continuing with education and working towards a qualification at a higher level.
"Throughout this experience, Visionpath provided incredible support and helped to put me at ease, knowing that this was the right decision to start the first steps of my career."
Can you remember a moment when you felt trusted with real responsibility? What did that involve?
In the later stages of my apprenticeship, I was given the responsibility of delivering the Risk induction sessions to new starters at the business. When originally presented with the opportunity to run these sessions, this felt like a real challenge that would push me out of my comfort zone! However, I also knew that being trusted with this responsibility meant that I was demonstrating the skills and knowledge to be able to pass this on to new colleagues starting at the Bank, and give them an introduction to the Risk department and how we supported the wider business. Previous to starting my apprenticeship, presentation and leading sessions with brand new people had never been a skill that came naturally to me, but with the support of Visionpath and Gatehouse Bank, I was able to embrace this responsibility and express myself as a subject matter expert!
What stands out as the most rewarding part of your apprenticeship experience?
The most rewarding part of my apprenticeship was the professional development I gained through facing numerous challenges, as well as the personal growth that this resulted in. I tackled situations that I felt uncomfortable with, such as presenting to large audiences and leading meetings with various internal and external stakeholders. This gave me a real sense of fulfilment, and pushed me out of my comfort zone to a point where I knew I was capable. I am incredibly thankful for these experiences, as they have now set me up with skills that I am going to take with me as I progress forwards in my career!
What challenges did you face during your apprenticeship, and how did you grow from them?
Starting my apprenticeship having just finished A-Levels and leaving Sixth Form, I remember feeling a little out of my depth when I first joined; I had no prior experience of my role or working in the Finance industry, but the nature of my role within Risk meant I had to have challenging conversations with my colleagues and assess the processes and controls within departments across the business, looking to identify areas for improvement and protect the business against risks. This felt like a challenge as I knew a lot of my colleagues had a lot more experience than I did. However, I found everyone to be really supportive and welcoming in my interactions with them, and the support I gained through my apprenticeship meant that I was always set up with the right preparation and skills to face these challenges with confidence!
I also found it challenging to juggle my first full-time role with studying for exams, and learning to organise my time efficiently to meet the demands of both my role and my apprenticeship. However, the support from Visionpath helped me to maintain a schedule where I could dedicate time towards studying and 'off-the-job' learning, meaning I never felt too overwhelmed and was able to pass all of my exams first time!
What moment made you realise you’d made the right decision choosing an apprenticeship?
The moment that I truly realised I had made the right choice by choosing an apprenticeship is when the new wave of apprentices joined the business a couple of years after I had first started. At this time, the realisation hit me of how far I had come in just a couple of years, and how much I had developed my professional skills to set me up for a long term career, on top of having gained a qualification at a higher level! From having lived the experience, I was able to offer a lot of support to the new apprentice in my team, and pass on the insight, advice and useful tips I had learned.
"This was a very rewarding experience for me to be able to help others and give back after the incredible support I had received, making me realise how grateful I was to have had this opportunity!"
Can you tell us about what life at work has been like since you finished your apprenticeship?
After finishing my apprenticeship, I continued to work hard and broadened my experience further by taking on more challenges and responsibility. This lead to me receiving promotions within the business, and establishing myself as a go-to person in my specialist area. I now chair a monthly forum attended by various internal and external stakeholders, and travel to a number of locations across the country for meetings, having maintained strong relationships with colleagues across the business and third parties! My current role is exciting and I have had the opportunity to be a part of developing new processes and controls that have supported the continuous growth and development of the business. I have a great relationship with my colleague who started at the same time as me as a fellow apprentice, and I feel lucky that we are able to look back on our experiences together! Looking forward, I am excited to continue my development in my career, and take on new challenges and opportunities.
Connect with Danny!
Here at Visionpath, our Ambassador Community is more than just a network, it’s a movement. Our ambassadors are current and former apprentices who are passionate about making a difference by sharing their real-life journeys to inspire the next generation.
Are you a current or former apprentice who wants to get involved in the movement? Email ambassadors@visionpath.co.uk to get started.
