The region's award-winning cash management company, Cascade Cash Management, has created an opportunity for a young person to start a career in the industry and Ryan Grave has jumped at the chance.
The 18 year old from Gateshead completed his A-Levels at Lord Dawson Beamish Academy and took a job at Marks and Spencers to make sure he was going into employment straight away. He always had aspirations for a career in a business and finance capacity though so kept his eyes open for an opportunity.
When he saw the role for an apprentice at Cascade advertised by Northern Skills, Ryan applied and is now delighted to be part of the innovative, pro-active team that help people get the best out of their cash.
Cascade Cash Management is an independent and transparent service created to generate enhanced cash returns and increased depositor protection on deposits through professional cash management. It boasts an online Fintech portal which is the only one of its kind in the UK. It allows independent and unbiased cash solutions meaning that clients don’t have to choose only one bank.
With the online portal and Cascade’s client support team, all banks are accessed quickly and easily, on a daily basis. Ryan’s role in the office environment involves shadowing the client managers, shadowing who is in the office on the same day as he is during the coronavirus pandemic.
He said: “It’s a hard time to join a company as everyone is remote working, but we are taking it in turns to do socially distanced days in the office which means I have been able to meet all of the team. They are really lovely, I feel very welcome, and most of all they are all very professional. The first thing I noticed is their positive attitude and the good relationships that they all have with the client base. “I am working towards my Business Administration qualification through my college studies as part of the Apprenticeship and I have already learnt a lot on the job too. I hope over the next 18 months I’ll have enough skills for the team to offer me a full-time permanent role here.”
The Cascade team can administer funds through their unique portal on behalf of clients and depositors can use the portal to manage their own savings in one place, with the dedicated support of Cascade. These clients include individuals, companies and charities. Partners including IFA’s, solicitors, attorneys, accountants and many more can also self-brand the product for presentation to their own clients. Cascade’s MD, Dr Emma Black, said: “It is important to us at Cascade to be an all welcoming company, giving opportunity and encouraging learning wherever we can. When the opportunity arose to look for an apprentice, Northern Skills were really helpful and seemed to understand the caliber of candidate that we required. We are all delighted to have Ryan join us and we look forward to supporting his journey.
