In 1960 Martins starts a programme of staff training, that says goodbye to many of the time-honoured ways of passing down knowledge from experienced senior clerk to wet behind the ears junior. The establishment of Staff Training Centres is seen as important by many of the high street banks, and coincides with the arrival of new technology – for which there can be no passing down from previous experience. Training centres or schools are set up in Liverpool and the North East to begin with, and later rolled out to London and other parts of the country. In our feature on the MIDLAND DISTRICT MACHINE SCHOOLS, you will see that many courses are actually based and run from branch premises in larger towns and cities. Here we reproduce an article from the Summer 1960 edition of Martins Bank Magazine, which introduces the idea of training schools as …
THE NEW LOOK
In the old days you learnt your job from the man above you. You learnt it well or badly according as to whether his and your standards were good or bad, and to some extent as to whether he had the patience and the time to teach you. In a busy branch there wasn't much time for instruction and you picked it up as best you could, learning by your mistakes and by having to do the job all over again. We have a better system nowadays and much more importance is attached to the value of proper training.
THELIVERPOOL TRAINING BRANCH Mr E G Shaw is at the top right of the picture and Miss Pat Hart can be seen standing at the counter facing the camera.				Schools or training branches are being established in the big cities and it is hoped that every new entrant will go to one of these branches in order to learn the Bank's book-keeping system under expert supervision. First of all the training branches to function was the one at Manchester which is located at Brown Street. It does not operate all the year round, but just at the time when the annual intake of new entrants takes place. Mr. D. G. Settle was in charge of it last year under the supervision of Mr. R. Tanner, Manchester District Inspector, but other arrangements are now contemplated.
The North Eastern District Junior Training School was opened on October 5th, 1959 and is situated on the second floor above Northumberland Street branch, Newcastle upon Tyne. The accommodation provides for twelve students at each session of three weeks' duration. The layout provides for three separate branches, each with a staff of four students, complete with adding machines and all necessary vouchers and ledgers to carry out a normal day's work in a branch bank, including the posting of the General Ledger and a weekly balance.
The instructress at the time the photograph was taken was Mrs. S. Whyte, formerly of the North Eastern District General Manager's staff, under the supervision of the Senior Inspector, Mr. W. S. Blaylock. After a short address of welcome by the District General Manager, the first day of each course is devoted to an introductory lecture by the Inspector, covering a general survey of the banking system, the history, organisation and book-keeping system of Martins Bank, the standard of work and general conduct.	NORTH EASTERN DISTRICT JUNIOR TRAINING SCHOOL at Newcastle Northumberland Street Branch. Mr W S Blaylock and Miss S Whyte can be seen supervising their pupils.
The emphasis of the course is on practical work, which commences on the second day of attendance. Four students are allocated to each of the three separate training branches, with regular interchange of duties within each branch as well as between branches.
THE LIVERPOOL TRAINING BRANCH A Cashiers’ Course in Progress.			On the same date, October 5th, 1959, the Liverpool District New Entrants Training School was opened above the Castle Street branch. Mr. E. G. Shaw is in charge of it and he has Miss Pat Hart to help him. As in the case of the North Eastern District, the New Entrants Basic Course can accommodate twelve students, who are divided into three branches of four. There are also training courses for young cashiers. It is hoped to have the London training branch started. before the end of the summer.
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