Hashim: Growing in our apprenticeship programme

Gone are the days when apprenticeships were only for school leavers, or for those looking for a traditional trade. Today, they're for anyone, no matter their age, career experience or previous professional development journey. 

We have apprentices across Royal London in fields such as finance, data, digital, technology solutions and leadership. Some are existing Royal London colleagues while others join us to start their journey.

Hashim tells us about his growth and experience as a Royal London apprentice. 

Rotating around the business

Hi, I’m Hashim, a Group Technology and Operations degree apprentice at Royal London. I joined in September 2021 and have been working towards achieving a degree at Manchester Metropolitan University in digital and technology solutions, specialising in data analytics. I attend the university one day a week, and I spend at least two days working in our Alderley Park office. The other two days, I  work from home. 

In my apprenticeship I rotate around the business every six months to learn about each area and get involved in the variety of work they offer. I've had the opportunity to work in Architecture, Change Analysis, IT Service Management, Project Management, and more. The rotations are fantastic and one of the reasons why I applied to Royal London. Making connections and building relationships has been essential for my development, and having a diverse support network has helped me build empathy and better adapt to change, which occurs often in the world of technology.  

"It’s a great feeling to be part of a project that positively impacts the business"

I’m currently working in Group Technology Services, specifically on a major policy attestations project which offers great outcomes to our customers. The work I’m doing is one piece of Royal London's effort to be data-driven and innovate responsibly, linked to our Purpose. It’s a great feeling to be part of a project that positively impacts the business, my colleagues, customers and our members.  

I’m halfway through my apprenticeship, and if I had to use one word to describe my experience it would be ‘growth’. I try to take every opportunity I’m presented with, especially when it comes to receiving feedback, and use it as a catalyst to broaden my learning, skills, and capabilities. I’m a solutions-focused person, and through this apprenticeship I’ve become more confident in my ability as an agile problem-solver. I’ve also identified key areas where I need to develop. 

Working with senior leaders

As an apprentice and a junior member, I'm encouraged to be proactive with my learning and development. After hearing about our Colleague Representative Forum, I applied to become a rep. Since then, I’ve had the opportunity to represent colleagues and make sure their voices are heard at key meetings with Royal London’s Group Executive Committee. Having the opportunity to collaborate with senior leaders at an early stage in my career has made me appreciate the value of these forums. 

I hope to continue championing the importance of apprenticeship programmes like Royal London’s that promote awareness, growth, development, and progression.  

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