Careers that make a difference to the UK economy

Colleague case study - Charlie Mobbs

We all know why we’re here – we have very clear objectives.

Charlie Mobbs
Risk Manager

During Covid-19, there have been a lot of calls. But usually it’s a lot of focused work – head down, time blocked out in the diary, few distractions.

It can be very, very varied. But, typically, we start with a stand-up to fill each other in on key priorities and anything getting in the way.

We also update our team’s director.

Then often it will be a mix of focused work and impromptu calls with direct colleagues as well as other teams, whether that’s Finance, Strategy and Economics, or product teams.

By late afternoon, I’ll go from the head-down, focused work with no distractions to more of the collaborative stuff and informal catch-ups with colleagues.

I came to the Bank straight out of university, so I’ve needed to build my confidence.

I’ve had opportunities to do that and now I feel more comfortable and ready for what my role demands.

I did a three-month internship with the Bank in 2017, during my second year at university.

I stayed in contact with the team while I finished my degree and joined permanently as an analyst within the Risk team in June 2018.

In that role, I gained a lot of exposure to the different teams across the Bank and was able to do a financial risk management qualification.

And through a number of colleagues moving, my current position became vacant.

Having completed the qualification, I now had what I needed to move successfully into the role I have now.

I’m also a Colleague Forum rep, which can take up some time, but it’s worthwhile.

“We’re the voice of colleagues and have a direct line into the executive committee. Whether they’re formal consultations and projects, or ongoing communications, we take concerns, queries and questions from the wider Bank to senior management.”

We all know why we’re here – we have very clear objectives.

It isn’t just about making money. It's about diversifying the finance market and making sure more people can get access to finance when they need it.

When I joined, it was easy to see the positive impact that the Bank has on the economy.

And there were clear goals in terms of what we were trying to do with the different financial products we offer.

I knew from my internship that people here are very collaborative, often working on projects that aren’t necessarily related to what they do.

There’s always encouragement to get involved in things that aren’t tied to your direct role.

And everyone’s getting stuck in and showing the same commitment, no matter what level they are.

The Bank has been really practical, arranging for us to receive the equipment we needed to work effectively at home.

And its other initiatives, such as Wellbeing Wednesday and the virtual quizzes, have allowed us to remain social and switch off from work a bit.

It’s been fine whenever I’ve needed to shut out all distractions.

In fact, with the firm’s response to Covid-19 and all the work going on, everyone’s been very focused, despite being away from the office.

I think over time we’ll all be able to look back and reflect on how much we’ve delivered when working from home.

But you do lose something when you can’t just walk over to someone’s desk and talk to them.

Or when you’re not overhearing what other people around you are working on.

So going forward, I’ll probably be hoping to work two or three days in the office and the rest at home.

Our recruitment guidance

We use a repeatable, four-step process when it comes to recruiting. And, as an equal opportunity employer, we can and will make adjustments to our process depending on what an applicant needs.

We’ve pulled together a useful outline of what our recruitment process looks like, along with some recommendations - and frequently asked questions – for anyone who wants to apply for a role with British Business Bank.