Evolution in clerical training‐Midland Bank

Until the exigencies of the last war brought about an ever‐changing staff, members of the Midland Bank had always received on‐the‐job training in the branch, but in 1940 it was realised that with the rapid draining‐off of experienced clerks, branches could no longer continue their own staff instruction and so the first Training Branches were brought into operation. These were set up mainly to give new entrants basic instruction in bank work, so that they would be of use to a branch as soon as they joined the staff. Since that time the pattern has been one of constant evolution. More Training Branches have been opened as the need has arisen to cover further areas of the country and deal with greater numbers of students. Courses now cover a wide field, from new entrant training right through to pre‐managerial instruction, and the whole conception of modern training is far removed from its very modest beginning 30 years ago.