Banking degree

Alexandra Smith

EducationGuardian.co.uk

No tuition frees, a guaranteed job after graduation and a wage while you study - it's a combination Barclays hopes will lure top students to a career with the bank.

Barclays has launched the UK's first retail banking degree in partnership with Nottingham Business School. A pilot prgaramme was launched in September and will be expanded next year.

The retail development programme offers students work experience in a customer-centred environment, full funding of their tuition fees and a guarenteed full-time position immediately after graduation.

Gary Hoffman, the group vice-chairman of Barclays, said:

"We are very proud to have launched this new programme. It addresses two of the main concerns of today's students: how to pay their way through university and what to do after graduating."

"This programme also helps Barclays secure a supply of talented, high-calibre graduates to work in our branch network. It is another good example that what we do under our corporate responsibility programme is also good for our business."

Selected students start on the programme at the end of the first year of their business management course at Nottingham Business School.

During the remaining tweo years of their course, students will do four five-month placements in Barclays branches to gain customer relationship, sales and management skills. Students will also work full-time towards their degrees during the placements.

Students who make it on to the programme will paid £12,000 perr annum. Barclays will also fund their university fees for the two years they spend on the programme.

"We are constantly trying to improve and develop our customer service and we feel this programme adds a valuable new route to becoming a branch manager at Barclays."

said Alison Hopkins, the co-network direct at Barclays.