Banking and Insurance

The clearing banks recruit nationally for their main graduate training schemes, for which entrants are expected to be fully mobile. If you choose to seek work in banks outside the national programmes, at local level, sometimes there are vacancies on regional schemes designed for A-level entrants and very occasionally, vacancies in specialist departments (eg tax work, economics departments) located in regional offices. Subsequent progression to management/graduate training schemes is possible. Currently most vacancies at local level are on short term contracts.
Summer work placements sometimes occur, to replace staff on holiday etc. Students/recent graduates can find temporary work that puts them in a good position to apply for graduate training schemes later on.
The various banks fill such regional vacancies in different ways. For example, Barclays only has short term contract vacancies, does not advertise these and only recruits via direct applications to the personnel manager in their regional office (PO Box 96, Mortlock House, Histon, Cambridge CB4 4ZX). Lloyds TSB advertises vacancies in the local press and also considers speculative enquiries (to Lloyds TSB Bank plc, Regional Personnel Office, Thames Valley & East, Triangle Business Park, Wendover, Stoke Mandeville, Aylesbury HP22 5BJ). NatWest fills all such vacancies via recruitment agencies (Alfred Marks and Manpower). The HSBC recommends a direct approach to one of the branches, asking the area manager about possible current vacancies.
However, it will be worth checking out the current recruitment situation with the manager of your local branch before pursuing these application routes, since several changes are taking place in the banking sector - rationalisation, mergers, mutualisation, etc - and these may drastically affect recruitment situations and policies. Unless you make it clear that you are not enquiring about the graduate recruitment scheme, your enquiry may simply be referred to the head office.

New banks

The situation with the recently converted building societies, and other banks is similar, for example: Halifax plc - enquiries for vacancies with branches of
Halifax plc in the region (ie East Anglia, including Herts, Bucks, etc.) should be addressed to: The Recruitment Department, Halifax plc, Eastern Region Office, High Trees, Hillfield Road, Hemel Hempstead, Herts HP2 4AY. A CV plus covering letter should be sent in the first instance. The enquiry will be matched against any vacancies there might be in the region.
Abbey National - The regional office (which for East Anglia is also their national HQ: Graduate Recruitment Officer, Abbey House, 201 Grafton Gate East, Milton Keynes, Bucks MK9 1AN) does not accept speculative enquiries for vacancies at branch level within the East Anglia region. Any such vacancies are advertised in the local press.

Insurance

Norwich Union, is now part of CGNU plc, which was formed by the merger of CGU and Norwich Union in May 2000. CGNU is now the sixth largest insurer in the world. Its UK life, pensions and general insurance businesses still operate, under the Norwich Union brand, from offices in Norwich. It has an annual graduate recruitment programme. Also a number of graduates are recruited each year at clerical or similar grades, from which some may choose to progress into 'graduate track' careers. This 'side-door' entry into a graduate track career may also be possible in other financial organisations, including for example other insurance companies, the banks and indeed many other mainstream graduate recruiters.
Several smaller insurance companies and insurance brokers also have offices in the Norwich area (see Yellow Pages)

Financial Services

Virgin Direct Financial Services Ltd has its headquarters and call centre in Norwich. The company provides a wide range of products including ISA's, life insurance, pensions and unit trusts. The company regularly recruits full and part-time staff mainly for customer contact work.
Virgin One Account specialises in providing a mortgage based account and is a separate company based near Sprowston. They also recruit full and part-time staff for their call centre and administration departments.
Both companies welcome speculative applications. Enquiries to: Discovery House, Whiting Road, Norwich, NR4 6TJ.
Updated: March 17, 2008 LD