Good place to work if you want to develop your skill base as training courses are very good
Pros
The group places great focus on personal development and 'Values & Behaviours' and offers its own on-line University to undertake on-line courses and book up face-to-face courses. All round there is strong emphasis on improving soft management skills. Staff benefits are improving, although since HMCR brought in taxable benefits it's hard to take advantage of cheap mortgages as the tax man usually takes his slice of the benefit meaning that it's eroded. Managers get 30 days holiday and have the ability to purchase up to 5 more.
Cons
Whilst targets are stretching you tend to find there is always a lack of investment in new product development in the Corporate arena meaning that streching targets are more challenging than they should be. The big downside is that Senior Management constantly talk of salary reviews as a whole package benefit, which includes Save As You Earn share purchase and Sharesave. These would be good if the company shares actually performed! Whilst we are seen as a safe bank you get the impression that Senior Management are under severe pressure from big investors not to damage the high yielding dividend which totally hampers any potential mergers. Don't work in Personal Banking staff morale is low due to lack of staff, very high targets and you need to report what products you have been sold almost by the hour.
