Offering opportunities
AAB has long offered opportunities for school pupils and graduates. These include work experience, apprenticeships, internships, student placements and graduate programmes. One common theme prevails: a firm focus on creating the best possible environment for people to flourish. Apprentices spend their first year settling in to working life before they start studying for professional qualifications. Each trainee is also assigned a workplace mentor and receives peer support throughout their apprenticeship.
Qualities over qualifications
‘Nothing is more important than our people.’ People is the first of AAB’s six group values, underpinned by a commitment to care and compassion. The recruitment process very much reflects this: at apprenticeship level the requirement for academic qualifications is only part of the picture. AAB has a skills-focused and attitude-based application form, followed by a video submission and in-person interview. At each stage, the goal is to get to know one another in a supportive yet professional way.
How did you hear about us?
Making young people aware of the different routes into a career in financial services – and dispelling some of the myths and stereotypes – is an ongoing process. AAB works in partnership with its local Developing the Young Workforce (DYW) groups, who facilitate connections between employers and young people. Keen to pitch their apprenticeship recruitment campaign correctly, the People and Culture team liaise closely with DYW North East throughout. As well as providing feedback, DYW representatives work closely with AAB to share information about their events and apprenticeship opportunities with secondary school pupils who are considering their next steps.
Attention to detail
Little things make a big difference. Current AAB trainees play a big part in apprenticeship webinars and in-person apprenticeship open evenings, as they are relatable role models for the young people who attend. Designing these events to appeal to a young audience – and to encourage interactivity – is key: AAB’s webinars feature fun quizzes with prizes such as Amazon vouchers, while its in-person events include refreshments that are geared towards the teenage appetite.
Extra mile
Outwith AAB’s apprenticeship recruitment campaigns, team members provide ongoing support to local youngsters by participating in mock interviews, delivering sector awareness sessions and attending school career fairs. As well as helping to raise awareness of the business, these activities provide development opportunities for staff and contribute towards AAB’s ESG goals. This is an organisation that lives up to its online promise: “At AAB our approach is different, and our success is down to one thing – our people.”
AAB is exhibiting at DYW North East’s ApprenticeFEST on Thursday, 26 February 2026. Find out more about ApprenticeFEST and register here.
AAB’S 2026 apprenticeship programme is open for applications from 26 January. The company will host an open evening in Aberdeen for young people and their parents/carers on Tuesday 10 February 2026. Book your free space here.
*This article was originally published in May 2023 and has since been updated to include additional information.
