Good place to work - Lending Manager Allica Bank Employee Review

Allica offers a high level of autonomy and trust, with employees empowered to make decisions and take ownership of their work. Senior leadership is approachable, and there is very little hierarchy, creating a collaborative and inclusive environment. The pay and benefits are competitive, and there is genuine flexibility in how you work. The culture is one of the company’s biggest strengths. The values are lived rather than simply talked about, and there is a strong focus on recognising people for their contribution and achievements. While the environment is fast-paced and can be demanding at times, hard work, commitment and results are noticed and rewarded on merit. The opportunity to make an impact and be recognised for it is significant. Allica’s focus on growth and innovation also creates opportunities for employees to develop and progress.

There are very few downsides. The annual leave entitlement is slightly lower than I have experienced in some previous organisations, and the employer pension contribution is not as generous as my previous employer. However, my previous organisation was exceptionally generous in these areas, so this may not be an issue for many people. The Milton Keynes office could benefit from some refurbishment and modernisation in places. Other than that, I have found very little to criticise. The positives of the culture, flexibility, autonomy and opportunities available far outweigh these minor points

Work from home almost immediately

During the recruitment process, HR confirmed that a non-contributory pension scheme was offered. However, upon joining the organisation, this proved to be inaccurate, raising concerns about the transparency and accuracy of information provided to prospective employees. The onboarding and training provided to new starters is extremely limited. There is a significant lack of structured learning, guidance, and support, making it unnecessarily difficult for employees to become effective in their roles. New employees are largely left to navigate systems, processes, and responsibilities independently, with minimal assistance or direction from management. While the organisation publicly promotes a commitment to employee wellbeing and mental health, my experience suggested a considerable disconnect between these statements and reality. Support appears superficial, and employees facing difficulties may feel unsupported rather than genuinely cared for. The company frequently highlights speed and agility as key strengths. However, operational reality often falls far short of this claim, with decisions, processes, and actions regularly taking weeks, or even months to complete. The organisation's current growth strategy appears heavily reliant on offering market-leading savings rates. Given that interest rates are subject to change and may decline in the future, there are legitimate questions about the sustainability of this approach, particularly when other products, services, and operational capabilities do not appear equally competitive or even basic stuff don’t even work properly for clients.