How to apply for our Future Talent programmes

Application form

Firstly, you will need to register your details – this is so that we can ensure that you are eligible to apply for the programme that you have chosen. We do not use Generative AI or any other agentive tool to screen at any stage of our application journey. 

If you are eligible to apply, this is where we would like to find out about your background, education, and work experience. We ask for you to share details around your protected characteristics to better understand our talent pool. It is optional but it helps us ensure we are reaching a diverse audience. Your details will not be shared with interviewers or assessors. 

Your application answers will help us to gain important insight into your strengths as a candidate. You can use the free text questions to give us insight into who you are and what motivates you. These sections are an important consideration for us. So, please take your time and make sure you are happy with your responses. 

You can find out more about our application criteria by expanding each programme on our webpage before registering.

If you are applying from outside of the UK, you can use this online tool to help you convert your international qualifications into UCAS points. UCAS points are a way of measuring the value of post-sixteen qualifications in the UK, used by universities and employers.   

Disability Confident scheme

We are committed to creating an equitable interview process for disabled candidates through our membership of the Disability Confident scheme (DCS). Disability includes but is not limited to visual and hearing impairments, mobility impairments, autism, ADHD, diabetes, epilepsy, dyslexia, dyspraxia, mental health conditions, speech impairments and major illnesses, such as cancer and MS.

If you opt to apply through the scheme and meet our eligibility requirements, we guarantee you an opportunity to complete a video interview.

Applying through DCS does not flag the need for adjustments or additional support, you must communicate any potential support you may need separately.

We do not share any disability information with interviewers or assessors without given consent.

If you would like to discuss how the Bank can support you to enable you to perform at your best through the recruitment process, please contact bankofengland@penna.com as you progress through each stage. 

Online tests

The first assessed stage of our recruitment process is a Situational Judgement Test. During this, we will present you with scenarios that reflect working life at the Bank. We use this test to gauge what you think you would do in a variety of situations. It gives us an understanding of how closely your behaviours are aligned to our ways of working. 

Following the application deadline, we benchmark scores to bring through our top performing candidates. If you pass the benchmark, you will move on to the next assessed stage.

If you have applied through the DCS, you will automatically proceed to the Video Interview stage, and we will not consider your score as part of your application.

Video interview

The next assessed stage of our process is a Video Interview. The video interview portal will prompt you to answer five questions, and the portal will record your answers. We will be assessing your compatibility with our behaviours, knowledge of what we do, and the climate in which we are operating. 

To prepare, you should think about:

• your key skills and strengths
• real-life examples of these skills
• how they might be relevant to the role for which you are applying

We will not be behind the camera in real-time, but our team of human assessors will review your response to each question. We do not use Generative AI or any other automated tool to score our Video Interviews.

After each question you will have some time to think about your response before the recording begins. 

All questions have a set time limit, and you must try to ensure that your answer is complete within this period – as the recording will stop. If you require extra time or any other adjustment at this stage, please email bankofengland@penna.com.

Please try to ensure your answers are well structured and succinct, as you will not be able to re-record. 

We aim to notify successful applicants two weeks after the application deadline and will move on to the final assessed stage – a virtual assessment centre. 

Assessment centres

Our assessment centres follow the same process for our Apprenticeships, Internships, Industrial Placements and Graduate programmes.

They consist of one group exercise and one interview. 

If you are applying to the Economics or Data streams of our Industrial Placement Programme, you will also be required to complete an online Excel test.

Multiple applications

Unfortunately, we do not accept more than one application per candidate. 

Our programmes focus on students at different points in their academic life. Please apply for one that is most relevant to you. Please note, only your first application will be accepted.

Pre-employment checks

If we offer you a job, the offer will depend on:

• references
• security clearance
• identity checks
• criminal record checks
• credit checks
• proof of qualifications
• immigration clearance (where relevant)

You will also need to complete a medical questionnaire.

Please note, National Security Vetting (NSV) is required for all staff joining the Bank of England. This usually takes three to four weeks after a position has been offered but can take longer. During this time, we advise that you should not hand in notice to your current employer. Your employment is conditional on you obtaining the right level of security clearance, if this is not granted, your offer of employment will be retracted. 

There are the following geographical limitations to this:

• We cannot conduct National Security Vetting (NSV) on any individual - be it a contractor or member of staff – if they have no UK residency and have no intention on working from a UK jurisdiction (such as UK embassies and other UK ‘managed’ locations).
• NSV is required for all roles at the Bank. Please note there are occasions where the Bank must complete overseas checks to obtain assurances for security clearance – when someone has lived outside the UK within the last five years. There are certain overseas countries where it is not possible for the Bank to complete the necessary checks to obtain the assurance needed for security clearance. In these situations, the Bank will be unable to employ you. It is important that applicants provide details of any residence outside the UK within the last five years. The list of countries where we are unable to obtain sufficient assurance changes from time to time, so please check with your Bank contact if you obtain an interview.

Right to work in the UK

For our graduate programme, the Bank may be able to offer visa sponsorship in specific circumstances. Eligibility will be assessed on a case-by-case basis, considering individual circumstances. All applications must comply with Home Office regulations.

For our internship and industrial placement programmes, those who do not have the right to work in the UK are required to be currently studying at a British university and hold a valid Student Route visa or have other leave to remain with appropriate working rights. 

For our PhD internship, we may be able to provide sponsorship, if needed, under the Government Authorised Exchange (Temporary Workers) scheme.

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Using artificial intelligence

Artificial intelligence is here to stay and is quickly becoming part of our everyday lives. We appreciate the efficiency gained from using AI tools to enhance your application or prepare for your interview. But we expect you to use them responsibly. Here is our guidance for using AI during the application process:

1. You can use an AI assistant to do extensive research on the Bank before you apply.

2. You can use it to proofread your CV or application form for grammar and spelling errors.

3. You can use it to refine your answers in your application form, suggesting improvements to the structure and word choice. Your skillset will shine through when your response is clear and easy to follow.

4. AI is your best friend when dealing with writer's block. But make sure, when it comes to relaying your experiences, that you are using your own words. 

5. Avoid copying and pasting an AI-generated response; it is inauthentic, hinders the integrity of your application and could raise copyright issues as the technology matures. 

6. By over-relying on AI assistants, you could get to the interview stage and realise you do not understand the concepts that you have mentioned in previous stages. Make sure you completely understand any AI-suggested terminology.

7. Focus on real-life experiences. Your interview and application should capture your own personal and academic journey.

8. Perfectly scripted and impersonal video interviews will not get you as far as genuine examples of your thought processes. There will be a human assessor on the other side who will connect with that more. 

9. At the Bank, we use the STARR (situation, task, action, result, reflection) interview method. You can practise mock interviews using the AI tool of your choice, prompting it to ask you common questions and give you advice on how to approach them better. 

10. We want you to be as present as possible. So, do not use any AI tools, assistants or platforms during your video interview, live interview or group exercise. It can distract and detract from showing us who you are. 

11. Tell us about any adjustments you need. AI-based tools can be useful for additional support so please let us know in advance for us to support you the best we can by contacting us at bankofengland@penna.com.