Are you finishing school and thinking about what’s next, but not sure where your interests might take you yet?
At Standard Life, we’re offering exciting apprenticeship opportunities for people who are curious, motivated, and ready to learn – no previous experience in Financial Services needed. You’ll gain hands‑on experience in our Retirement Solutions and Asset Management operational teams, building practical skills and knowledge that can open doors to a wide range of future careers. If you’re looking for a supportive place to start your working life and grow your confidence in a professional environment, this could be the perfect first step.
Who are Standard Life?
We’re Standard Life, a retirement specialist focused entirely on retirement savings and income. We champion the belief that everyone’s journey to and through retirement can be better, and for more than 200 years, we’ve been helping our customers plan and prepare for their financial futures.
Life today is increasingly complicated, uncertain and unpredictable. People move through different careers, face unexpected moments and navigate important choices. We offer our colleagues flexibility, trust and benefits that work for whatever life brings. In return we expect curiosity, connection, accountability and high standards. We make room for what matters - so you can bring your best, every day.
Key Details
Job Type: A2-year Apprenticeship Programme Location: This role will be based in our Birmingham office, with regular opportunities to spend time in our Telford office (typically 2 days per week in our Telford office) where you’ll meet peers and work closely with a range of teams. Any required travel from your base office to other offices will be fully supported, with expenses covered in line with Standard Life’s business travel policy.
We see this travel as a chance for you to build relationships, learn from different teams, and experience a variety of professional settings. We’re mindful that everyone’s circumstances are different, so we’ll talk openly during the recruitment process about what works for you and how we can balance this with our business needs.
Salary and Benefits: £24,492 per year + discretionary bonus,
- excellent pension scheme,
- private medical insurance,
- electric vehicle scheme,
- 38 days holiday incl. Bank Holidays
- 12x salary life assurance, career breaks, income protectio
- 3x volunteering days and much more!
Start date: September 2026
What is the purpose of the Asset Management (RS&AM) Chief Operating Office(COO)? In Asset Management, we help people grow their savings and plan for the future by investing across a wide range of assets, supporting goals from retirement to long‑term financial security. Behind the scenes, our Chief Operating Office (COO) is the engine that keeps everything running smoothly and safely - designing processes, managing systems, and supporting teams so investments are delivered accurately, responsibly, and on time. This engine is made up of several key areas, which you’ll be exposed to during your apprenticeship:
Asset Management Operations: Our Collateral Management team ensures financial trades are secure by overseeing the checking, tracking, and control of assets used to mitigate risk, keeping investment processes reliable and well‑governed.
COO Business Management: Our Business Management team aligns the COO function by coordinating planning, priorities, and senior decision‑making to keep the business running smoothly.
Technology: Our Technology, Platform Engineering team builds and runs cloud‑based data platforms (i.e. AWS and Snowflake) and coding languages (i.e. Python and SQL); turning data into practical solutions that power the business.
Policy Holder Operations: Our Policyholder Operations team ensures policyholder funds are managed safely and accurately through activities such as unit pricing, fund accounting, performance reporting, and issue management, delivered through strong controls and collaboration.
Clients Services: Our Client Services team looks after our customers with care and attention, managing their funds accurately, keeping information clear, and always working to achieve the best outcomes and value for their investments.
Compliance: The Investment Compliance team acts as the first line of defence, ensuring investment decisions are responsible, well‑controlled, and compliant with regulations across Retirement Solutions & Asset Management.
What our Apprenticeship offers:
Each apprentice will have a home role in one of the five teams outlined above, where you’ll spend the full two years building skills, confidence, and experience in a supportive environment. Alongside this, you’ll have the opportunity to take part in shorter ‘Gigs’ across the COO function and the wider Asset Management team. These experiences are designed to help you explore different areas of the business, meet new people, and broaden your understanding of the industry.
This apprenticeship is a chance to learn by doing, develop skills that will support your future career, and gain a real insight into how a large financial services organisation works. You’ll be supported throughout your journey, encouraged to ask questions, and given opportunities to grow at a pace that’s right for you - making this a great first step into the world of work!
What are we looking for?
Current or recent school leavers, who have completed A-level or equivalent i.e. BTEC and are looking for a Level 3 AI and Data Foundations Apprenticeship (2 years) with opportunity to progress further. You will be fully funded and supported in your apprenticeship and will have 1 day a week away from work dedicated to your learning.
Qualification Criteria
Applicants must have at least *5 GCSEs at grades 9–4 (~A–C), with English at a minimum of grade 5 and/or Maths at a minimum of grade 6.
Our next Apprentice
- We’re looking for motivated, curious people who are keen to learn and ready to succeed - no previous financial services experience needed. This role would suit you if you:
- Bring a positive, professional attitude and take pride in what you do
- Are curious, keen to learn and develop, including building communication, negotiation, and problem‑solving skills over time
- Are open to learning from feedback, using guidance and support to keep improving
- Enjoy working with people and being part of a collaborative team; experience in retail, hospitality, or customer‑facing roles is a real plus
- Have good attention to detail and like working accurately
- Are organised and able to balance work and study during the apprenticeship
- Show ambition, enthusiasm, and a willingness to try new things and build confidence as you learn
We welcome applications from people of all backgrounds and experiences. You don’t need to meet every point above to apply - if you bring commitment, curiosity, and a willingness to learn, we’ll support you to build the skills and confidence you need to succeed.
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Job Types: Full-time, Permanent, Apprenticeship
Pay: £24,492.00 per year
Benefits:
- Company pension
- Private medical insurance
Work Location: In person
