Customer Operations Graduate in Manchester

Graduate Programme 2026 Overview

The Customer Service function plays a central role in delivering outstanding experiences to our customers and members across every interaction. As a Graduate, you'll gain hands-on exposure to how we support customers through our Digital channels, in our Branch Network, over the phone with the Contact Centre, across Mortgage Operations and through our specialist teams in Complaints and Customer Operation teams. This breadth ensures you understand how each area operates and how they work together to provide a seamless and consistent service.

Throughout your placement rotations, you will contribute to different roles and be involved in projects that improve colleagues and customer experiences. You will gain insight into the different customer journeys and help improve operational efficiency. We are looking for someone with leadership ambitions and a desire to understand and improve the experience of customers. You will need to be able to work at pace and be proactive in your approach. This is an exciting time to join the Customer Service function, so we are looking for someone up for the challenge who wants to be part of the journey.

You’ll receive first-hand experience from several teams on your placements, which could include working on:

• Operational support and management in a contact centre environment
• Branch banking and providing support to customers in a branch environment
• Training and coaching, designing learning for operational roles and upskilling colleagues
• Complaints management and supporting with investigating complaints
• Involvement in projects that improve customer and colleague experience

Graduate Programme: Key Information

• Programme Commences: 7th September 2026
• Programme Duration: 2 years
• Starting Salary: £29,500pa
• Location: Manchester/ Hybrid - you will also need to travel to Coventry when required

Applications: Please note we may withdraw this vacancy once sufficient applications have been reached.

Your placements will vary depending on business needs at the time as well as being tailored to your areas of interest. Each placement is designed to develop your commercial and strategic thinking, negotiation and influencing skills and understanding of how our Bank works. Our two and three year Graduate schemes provide a structured development programme. You’ll develop key leadership skills and competencies and gain knowledge and experience through a series of placements across your chosen business area.

Fantastic support

There’s much more to our graduate programmes than on-the-job experience. We’ll provide tools to drive your career and develop you as a person. You’ll have access to all the support you need. The ultimate responsibility for shaping your development will be yours. Your Business Sponsor will review and appraise your performance, providing feedback and coaching at every step to ensure your success and growth. We’ll also assign you a senior leader mentor and work with you on a personal development plan to combine technical training with personal and professional learning to help you grow your skills and gain a relevant apprenticeship.

Are you made of the right stuff?

We’re looking for commercial thinkers with real enthusiasm, energy and potential. Level-headed with bright ideas, you’ll crave responsibility and have the drive to see things through from start to finish. A great communicator who can connect with anyone—whoever they are, you’ll enjoy taking on new challenges and creating and developing new products and ideas that will shape the future of banking.

Graduate Programme: Application Process

What you’ll need

Above all you must be passionate about looking at things differently to shape the future of banking.

Entry Requirements:

• On course for, or have achieved a 2:1 degree or above in any discipline or a 2:2 degree with a Masters
• Eligibility to work in the UK

Our assessment process

We’ve designed our process to get to know each other better. We’ll ask you to participate in:

• Online application and screening
• Video Interview
• Assessment Centre – weeks commencing 23rd-27th March (In person, located at our HQ in Manchester)
• Final stakeholder interview

We can only consider candidates with the right to work in the UK at this time. Our Bank is committed to creating a diverse workforce and an inclusive environment where all colleagues can fulfil their potential.

If you require more information or this document in a different format, please contact graduates@co-operativebank.co.uk

As a reputable employer regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority, all offers of employment for this role are subject to a series of background checks, including criminal (DBS) and financial checks.