RBC aims to be staff's and clients' first choice

RECRUITING and retaining a top-notch workforce is high on the Royal Bank of Canada's agenda this year. Chris Blampied, RBC's Channel Islands managing director, said more than £600,000 was spent last year on staff training.

'We have got more focus this year on recruiting and retaining high calibre staff. The logo we use is ?earning the right to be our clients' first choice?,' he said.

'We are working wherever we can to improve our clients' service, that means getting quality people, broadening the range of services and coming up with the right solutions.'

Mr Blampied said the bank was striving to be an employer of choice for its 300 staff.

'Something we focus on a lot is our employees and ensuring that we recruit the right individuals and give them the opportunity to gain vocational qualifications.

'Last year alone we set aside £600,000 for training and recruiting top quality people. It is something we are very keen on to ensure that the we give the right service to our clients.'

Royal Bank of Canada is also looking to grow its business this year.

'Last year was a great year for us and we also have ambitious targets for this year.

'But it is not just about that, it is about having services that suit our clients and making sure we have the right staff who can come up with the right solutions.'

It acquired Abacus Financial Services Group last November, a move which has brought another 400 staff under the RBC umbrella.

'They are all high quality individuals and early indications are that it is going extremely well.'

Mr Blampied said RBC's staff were delighted to make the shortlist for the Awards for Achievement large business award.

'We were invited to make a submission and we focused on a number of areas such as employees and training and what we do for the community, which is particularly important to RBC as a group.

'While we didn't win, all the employees were pleased and proud to be the only finance company and it was a stepping stone to reaffirming that we are an employer of choice.'

Mr Blampied said the group took its corporate responsibilities very seriously.

'As a group RBC always tries to support the communities it operates in. In Guernsey we have done various fund-raising and athletic events. We also support our staff in terms of community work that they do. If they give 40 hours of their time to a particular charity we automatically donate £200.'

Each year the bank nominates a charity of choice.

'Last year it was Multiple Sclerosis and we were also able to raise £10,000 for a baby ventilator for the PEH. This year the staff have just voted to support the NSPCC.'