A group of six students from Mcast are undergoing a programme of apprenticeship at the HSBC UK Contact Centre Malta in Swatar.

The two-year programme, which bridges the gap between education and employment, will end on October 9.

The group will then return to the centre three more times for additional mentoring, which will last for four, three and 13 weeks respectively.

The students are studying for an advanced diploma in financial services from the college’s Institute of Business and Commerce.

The centre’s recruitment manager Rebecca Durke said: “The centre is committed to creating a well-qualified workforce that can fuel the growth of the sector, as well as of the Maltese economy. We are realising this ambition by offering a range of training and learning opportunities.”

At the end of the programme, qualified students are likely to receive full-time employ-ment offers at the centre, which is known for its informal yet supportive workplace atmosphere.

The various support services for staff at the contact centre include a concierge service, in-house gym, childcare subsidies, on-site medical health checks and private healthcare.

Set up in 2006, the centre has grown through the years, with more than 450 employees now assisting UK customers.

More information is available at www.hsbc.com.mt/careers. An age-neutral CV can be forwarded to malta.recruitment@hsbc.com.