Lesley - HR Business Partner
Joined September 2000
I was working on a fixed-term contract as an HR Assistant for a global pharmaceutical company while looking for ‘the right’ graduate programme. I didn’t feel I had a clear idea of what I wanted from my career – I did, however, know I wanted challenge, opportunity to progress, quickly, and real responsibility from day one. I was also keen to explore international opportunities, so the fact that Barclays had a global presence was significant in my decision.
My time here has confirmed my decision was the right one for me. In my current role I provide HR support to the frontline or sales teams. It’s hugely varied, involving everything from interviewing and selecting senior business leaders to outlining key people performance metrics. It has also given me the international exposure I was after – I have just returned from an 18-month stint working in South Africa. This really broadened my thinking and gave me greater appreciation of how important cultural awareness is as we seek to become ever more global as an organisation.
I’m a great believer in being proactive about my career development. I try to stay close to my own needs and I’m always conscious of what additional development might aid my next career move. I have been through a range of change courses, including Prince 2, and made regular calls on my mentors, whose counsel I have found invaluable. At the moment, I’m enjoying enough challenge and interest in my current role supporting the business as it forges ahead.
Luke - Credit Team Assistant
Joined November 2007
At my university’s career days I was given a lot of information on leading companies in the business world. Barclays stood out significantly. What the company stood for, what it had achieved and, more importantly, where it was heading made me eager to join.
As I was studying law, banking was completely new to me, so my first aim on coming into the bank was to gain a sound understanding of the fundamental principles and skills commercial banking needs. My team have been great in helping me with this. Each member contributes daily to my personal development and my team leader has been fantastic – starting from when I first applied, through to the one-to-ones we have now. He’s cemented my belief that in the Commercial Bank the sky’s the limit. I’d love to work for Barclays abroad at some point, and feel it’s more than achievable.
As for the training, the great emphasis Barclays puts on development was one of the reasons I chose to come here. As well as the ongoing Credit Skill Development course, I’ve been on e-expenses training and am due to attend a risk induction course soon.
For me, Barclays is different because of its proactive approach to the present and future. The bank is constantly questioning its methods in order to improve. So, if you’re a focused, results driven person, who aims for excellence, Barclays Commercial Bank is the place for you. The wealth of opportunities is incomparable and you can feel confident knowing you’re working for one of the top companies in the world.
Isabel - Director, Global Payments Programme Risk
Joined January 2008
Barclays is a large, solid and well-respected financial institution, with significant global ambitions – and there are many opportunities here for people with ambition, particularly within the growing area of Global Payments.
The fact that this area is involved in a number of new projects and there are opportunities to have an impact from the outset was one of the main reasons behind my move here. This makes it an exciting place in which to work and means the potential for progression is huge. Of course, as I have only been here for four weeks, it’s all been a bit of a whirlwind – the new joiners’ induction, a stack of reading on the latest industry developments, meetings with colleagues from several different departments and getting to grips with a number of challenging projects – but everyone has made me feel very welcome and it’s taken no time at all to find my feet.
I’m looking forward to learning more about the different businesses with the Group and hopefully I’ll play my part in adding value to a very successful and growing organisation.
Tim - Relationship Manager
Joined August 2007
Everyone I’ve met at Barclays has been positive and upbeat. It’s one of the reasons I joined. It was also a natural progression. I’d managed medium-sized business relationships at my previous bank, so dealing with the larger companies they offered me here was the next obvious challenge.
I provide finance for the purchase or refinancing of assets. Seeing new premises, new vehicles or new products for sale and thinking “I helped them achieve that” is enormously satisfying. So is dealing with customers at many levels and learning to adapt to that. Over the next few months I’m looking forward to further building relationships with new customers and colleagues, generating more leads and gaining more appointments, and enjoying the success this will bring.
My next aim is to become a team leader. One of my colleagues has recently been promoted to that position, so I see it as very achievable. In my opinion, nowhere in the financial sector is as exciting as Barclays is right now.
Martin - Resourcing Coordinator
Joined October 2005
Because Barclays is a blue-chip company with locations all over Europe, I thought it was the kind of organisation that would give me plenty of career options. It looks like I was right!
Within a year of joining, I had the chance to move from the office in Poole to London – and a role with a wide range of responsibilities. Basically, I’m the ‘middle man’ who liaises with job applicants and hiring managers alike. And for external candidates I’m also the first point of contact for all the
pre-employment screening checks.
Looking ahead, it would be great to take advantage of Barclays’ global profile and take up a position overseas. But for now, I’m really enjoying the variety of my present post – and working with a great mix of people from all kinds of backgrounds.
Henrietta - SOX Financial Control Specialist
Joined August 2007
I used to work in an information risk management and SOX audit role with a leading firm of chartered accountants before joining Barclays. The chance to move into more of a SOX/Financial control role was one of the motivating factors behind my move, but the shift in focus hasn’t been the only big difference I’ve noticed. What I find here is that I’m allowed to take responsibility with minimal supervision. I find that builds character and pushes me to learn more about Barclays Commercial Bank, which is great as it also opens my eyes to the enormous opportunities there are for professional development.
Barclays has sufficient scale and diversity to ensure there are plenty of opportunities for a good, fulfilling and long-lasting career. In my short time here I have met people who have made dramatic shifts in career direction due to changed interests. In my opinion, that’s what makes this an exciting place to work.
As might be expected there are a huge number of training courses in place to help you along the way. I’m pleased to say that I’ve already attended quite a few, including SAP and Lean, and am looking forward to obtaining my CIMA qualification with the support of the Bank.
Richard - Relationship Development Manager
Joined April 2007
My route into Barclays hasn’t been the most obvious. I was a phone trainer for a mobile phone company before joining. Prior to that I’d worked for an IFA firm and also spent six months travelling around South America. It just goes to show that all kinds of backgrounds can open up a great future for you here.
Finding my feet was made easy thanks to the week-long training course I went on when I first joined Commercial Bank Sales – that and the amazing people I had all around me who were more than willing to help out when I needed it. I’ve really settled into my job now and enjoy the mix of supporting existing clients while working with my manager to research potential clients and grow new business.
Working with other areas of the bank is fundamental to the way we put together new business proposals – and it also lends itself well to professional development. You get to see how other departments work and meet colleagues who are incredibly professional, take pride in what they do and really enjoy it. Did I mention the people here are fantastic?
Tim - Head of Hotel Finance
Joined September 1989
I spent a year with Kingfisher Group as part of my business degree, and had hoped to join them, so coming to Barclays wasn’t my first choice. I now realise it should have been!
After my graduate training, I had a number of client management roles that led to my becoming increasingly involved in the hotel sector. Now, I head a team responsible for all Barclays hotel clients in the UK and Western Europe. In the last year, we’ve completed over 1.5 billion euros worth of new deals, ranging from the acquisition of deluxe hotels, through the refurbishment of iconic London properties, to the refinance of provincial 4 star portfolios. I set and implement the strategy on how and where we fund new deals and win new clients. I also have a strong PR remit, which means I speak and write about the industry and am often quoted in the press.
A typical day involves meeting clients in this country or abroad, and helping them with their strategic challenges and finance needs. In short, making deals happen. It gives me a real buzz, but you need a great team to do it. Our people are committed, well trained and professional, so I benefit from their support. Our brand is an asset too. Its power and longevity give us a competitive edge.
This year is going to be great for us. I’m looking forward to smashing our targets and having fun while we do it. If you’re looking for superb training and career opportunities around the world, you couldn’t do better than come here.
Craig - Case Manager
Joined May 2007
After 7 years working in the utility sector I was after a change and the opportunity Barclays offered me was one I simply couldn’t refuse. They made the switch easy for me with an initial 5 weeks of training that taught me everything from the history of Barclays to the specifics of my role and the systems I would be using.
Training has been a regular feature of my time here. Changes happen regularly as we improve and enhance our service, so there’s always something new to learn. And on top of the courses that help improve my knowledge and benefit me in my day-to-day work, I meet regularly with my manager to plan my career development.
If people want to move into a fast-paced, ever-expanding business then Barclays Commercial Bank is the place for them. It’s an organisation that encourages development and promotion from within, so if you’re looking for somewhere that can offer you prospects, this is the place to come.
