Baiduri Bank welcomed the third batch of apprentices in its Graduate Apprenticeship Programme (GAP), at the Atrium of Baiduri Bank Headquarters on Wednesday, 26 April 2023.

Through a comprehensive selection process of over 200 applicants, the Bank has signed up 11 apprentices, who will begin their six-month programme with the Bank from 1 May 2023. These new apprentices have academic backgrounds that range from Business, Information Technology to Arts and Sciences.

Present at the ceremony were Ti Eng Hui, Chief Executive Officer of Baiduri Bank, and Veronica Chong, Head of Group Human Resources and Administration, as well as other members of the Bank’s Management Committee, Heads of Departments and families of the incoming apprentices.

GAP is Baiduri Bank’s holistic learning and development programme aimed at bridging the gap between academia and industry, offering fresh graduates the chance to gain relevant knowledge, practical skills and on-the-job experience to increase their employability in the local job market. The Programme is divided into two main parts – a classroom component and experiential learning through work attachments and project assignments within Baiduri Bank Group.

In his opening remarks, Ti Eng Hui, CEO of Baiduri Bank said: “Our first and second cycle of the programme was a great success. GAP represents a unique opportunity for graduates to build transferable soft skills that will assist them with getting a stronger foothold in their future careers. GAP is a strong testament to Baiduri Bank’s commitment to equip recent graduates with the necessary skills and a learning mindset. 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 the following months, the apprentices will begin their classroom learning activities, where they will gain comprehensive knowledge of various financial products and services from experienced professionals and contribute to the Bank’s innovative work in the financial industry. They will attend courses on soft skills such as effective communication, project management, teamwork and collaboration to enhance their overall work readiness.

They will be introduced to various key business units and undergo on-the-job training in an assigned department within the Bank for the remainder of the programme, offering first-hand experience of the inner workings of a financial institution. At the same time, the apprentices will also be able to participate in CSR initiatives and have the opportunity to run the various health and wellness activities under Baiduri Bank’s Employee Wellness Initiative.

At the end of the 6-month programme, apprentices may apply for any suitable vacancies within Baiduri Bank Group or pursue their careers with other organisations in the industry.