Ryan Davies, interim managing director of mortgages at Hodge has become an advisory board member for the Welsh Financial Services Graduate Scheme.
Davies (pictured) has been through the programme himself in 2015. It is designed to ensure that Wales retains its high-calibre graduates to support the Welsh financial services sector, creating an elite talent pool to support the growth of indigenous companies and attract more FS businesses to Wales.
Since it started in 2013, the programme, run by Wales Contact Centre Forum, has recruited over 105 graduates and enabled 98% of graduates to secure permanent roles in their chosen career path and with their chosen employer.
Davies said: “I joined the graduate scheme in September 2015, and was fortunate to secure a placement at Hodge, working in the compliance and risk team. At the end of my placement, I was offered a permanent role working in the risk team. This was a great role for my development as it gave me exposure to a wide variety of areas within the bank.
“After working in various roles within Hodge, in March of this year, I was offered the opportunity to become interim managing director for the division. I feel incredibly fortunate to be where I am today.
: “The graduate programme has played such a pivotal role in my career, when I heard there was an opportunity to join the advisory board, I jumped at it.
“The scheme has so much to offer both businesses and graduates and having the ability to shape the programme utilising my first-hand experience with the aim of inspiring more graduates and businesses to take part, just felt like a great way to give back.
“I’ve have been lucky to have great mentors and leaders who have really supported me and helped me with my development. I’ve also had some really great roles that have allowed me to explore my strengths and passions.
“I look forward to doing the same with other graduates coming through the scheme and can’t wait to meet some of the graduates and help them get their first step on the ladder of a financial services career.”
