In recognising and celebrating the second cycle of apprentices in the Graduate Apprenticeship Programme (GAP), Baiduri Bank held a graduation ceremony yesterday for the second cycle of apprentices who recently completed the 6-month programme.

The event was held at the Baiduri Community Space in Baiduri Bank Headquarters and was attended by the apprentices, their family members, as well as various Heads of Departments and members of the Bank’s Management Committee.

During the event, the apprentices received certificates from the Bank to officially certify that they completed the programme, and each apprentice had a chance to give the audience a short presentation of their journey and growth in the programme, which included a recap of all the various events they were involved in. The event ended with a group photo.

From this cycle, 11 apprentices have been offered employment with the Bank Group.

Siti Nur Nabilah Aqilah Rahim, who has been offered a position in Group Human Resources and Administration, said: “In these last six months I’ve learned and gained so much knowledge and skills that will definitely help me grow as a person - both personally and professionally. I'm now looking forward to using all the things I’ve gained from the programme to use in my future career in Human Resources. I believe all of us have come out of this programme as newer and better people in all the best ways possible.”

Meanwhile, Ahmad Nazim Hj Amer Iskandar, who has been offered a position at Baiduri Capital, said: “My experience in GAP has been a great learning experience for me as I’ve never had any prior work experience. This whole experience has been a very eye-opening one as I’ve gotten to improve my skills, enhance my employability and grow as a person.”

In his opening remarks, Ti Eng Hui, Chief Executive Officer of Baiduri Bank, lauded the apprentices for completing the programme and for all their contributions to the Baiduri Bank Group over the course of this year. He also mentioned how in demand programmes like GAP are and how they add value to the professional development of local graduates.

This is also in support of Goal 1 for Wawasan Brunei 2035, reflecting the national aspiration to be widely recognised for an educated, highly skilled, and accomplished workforce.

In his welcoming remarks of the event, he said: “GAP offers a unique opportunity for recent graduates to gain valuable working experience and give them a firmer foothold in the job market.

“Throughout their time here, our apprentices have not only attended courses aimed at helping them acquire soft skills such as effective communication, project management, and effective teamwork to enhance their overall work readiness, but they were also very involved with our initiatives to give back to the community.”

GAP is a 6-month holistic learning and development programme aimed at providing recent graduates with the necessary knowledge, skills and experience to increase their employability in the local job market.

Over 300 applications were received during the second intake of the programme earlier this year, and after a selection process involving written assessments, an interview, as well as a video resumé, the Bank Group welcomed just 15 apprentices into the programme last April. Emphasising a more digital approach to recruitment, the selection process was done virtually, and applicants were assessed through a video presentation to evaluate their creativity and readiness to step out of their comfort zones.

Successful applicants join the Programme as ‘apprentices’, embarking on a series of classroom learning activities where they will be introduced to the banking world and gain comprehensive knowledge of various financial products and services. They will also attend courses aimed at helping them acquire soft skills to enhance their overall work readiness.

These apprentices will subsequently undergo on-the-job training in different departments within the Bank Group, designed to offer them first-hand experience of the inner workings of a financial institution.
Apprentices will also be involved in projects that would positively impact the local community through the Bank Group’s various Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) initiatives.

At the end of the programme, apprentices may apply for suitable vacancies within Baiduri Bank Group or pursue their careers with other organisations in various industries.

The programme has opened applications for the third cycle of its programme. It is open to Bruneian citizens and permanent residents who have graduated in the last three years with a minimum qualification of a bachelor’s degree and with no prior work experience. Candidates also need to be well-rounded with diverse interests and talents and be willing to learn in a fast-paced environment.

Candidates interested in applying for the programme can send their latest resume as well as a copy of their highest education certificate to [email protected] with the subject “Graduate Apprenticeship Programme Cycle 3”. Applications opened on 17 October 2022 and will close on 6 November 2022.

For more details on the programme and career opportunities with Baiduri Bank Group, please follow the Bank Group on its social media channels or visit www.baiduri.com.