5 top tips for creating an effective PDP
Career Tips and Advice
Steve joined the Dean Street branch of NatWest more than 15 years ago. And despite being settled in a role he enjoyed, he utilised the learning resources and support that the bank had to offer to take on an exciting new challenge and join a completely different business area.
‘My mum always used to say to me, “I want you to wear a suit and tie to work, son,”’ recalls Steve. ‘As a bank branch manager, you were seen as a pillar of the community; trustworthy, honest, and reliable. I guess that’s what attracted me to the bank. Whilst that might not have changed, the clothes certainly have. Now you can wear a polo shirt and trainers…sorry mum!’
From his first role as a Personal Banker, Steve gradually worked his way up to become a Branch Manager, looking after branches in the West End, Midtown, and then the City of London, and managing a team of up to 30 people. And then a few years ago, he decided to change direction, with a move to the Retail Pricing team.
Moving with the times
‘We’ve all seen how banking has changed over the past few years,’ says Steve. ‘I’ve mentored lots of colleagues through those changes; helping them respond to the rise in digital banking and chase their personal goals. For some, that’s meant understanding how the skills they’ve developed through working in a branch, could be transferred to different roles across the bank.
‘Eventually, along with some encouraging words from my better half, something just clicked. I thought, “Why not you Steve? How can you use your experience to have a broader impact across the business?”’
Steve’s first step was to update his CV. ‘It helped me realise all the experience I’ve gathered over the years.’
Transferable skills
‘Working in a branch, you’re an Operations Manager, a Risk Manager, a Product Expert, a Communications Manager, and more…and all those skills are absolutely transferable.
‘As I began to look at different job descriptions, I started to link the skills and experience back to my own CV. My eyes were suddenly opened to other opportunities I thought weren’t attainable for me,’ he reveals.
‘I’d always been interested in pricing, and how we deliver value for both customers and shareholders. I attended a careers fair and then made the most of my existing network to connect with a member of the team that particularly interested me.
‘It was enough to grab my interest, and when a six-month secondment came up, I took a chance and applied. One year on, I’m now a permanent member of the team!’
Today, Steve looks at how our pricing compares against our key competitors and the wider market. He then feeds that information into pricing decisions which affect our customers, and our success as a business. In his role, he helps ensure our pricing is fair for customers, while also considering the overall profitability of our business.
‘Consumer Duty plays such a massive part in these decisions,’ says Steve. ‘We’re always thinking about how we deliver fair value for customers, but it’s perhaps particularly important in the current economic climate. That’s a huge consideration when getting stakeholders around the table to agree pricing decisions.
‘It just blows my mind what I’m getting involved with now,’ says Steve. ‘In this role I’m able to impact even more customers on a wider scale. Not to mention the part the team plays overall in contributing to the bank’s balance sheet. It’s fantastic to have this opportunity.’
Facing challenges and upskilling
Steve’s honest enough to admit, that although making the move was absolutely the right decision for him, it hasn’t been without its challenges.
‘In my previous role, giving presentations wouldn’t faze me at all, but when I first joined the team, I was operating in a different space and it was daunting,’ Steve reveals. ‘I was working alongside people who hold degrees very different to mine, in subjects like Advanced Statistics and Mechanical Engineering, some up to PhD level. That’s definitely not my area of expertise! I had to lean heavily on my colleagues and make the most of the learning opportunities available across the bank including the NatWest Academy and signing up for data camps.
‘I certainly found those first few months challenging, and sometimes I did question whether I was in the right place. It was a stretch. But it was also really interesting, and it’s been so rewarding to see how I’ve added value to the team, and to have that recognised by senior leadership.’
Job satisfaction
One of Steve’s highlights so far has been leading a team of developers and stakeholders to introduce new automation into the pricing governance process. This has helped to support decision-making, optimise workflows, and empower the wider team to make faster decisions.
‘It’s been a steep learning curve,’ he admits. ‘But so many of my skills from working in branches were completely transferable. And the team – including my managers and mentors – have been so willing to support me. It’s been fantastic.
‘My advice to anyone considering a change in direction is to always have an open mind,’ says Steve. ‘Don’t shut things down too quickly. And look for all the different ways you can relate a job description back to your CV. So many of the skills we develop in our roles are relevant and applicable.
‘I speak to colleagues who say “there’s no way I could do that” but I know them, I know their ability, and I know they absolutely could. So don’t shut opportunities down just because they’re different to what you’re used to.
‘I could have stayed in my comfort zone, in a job I enjoyed, where I’d already built up a good network and a great reputation. But I’m glad I made the leap. Looking back, it was definitely the right decision for me.’
