Investment Research Graduate Programme
About us
Your future. Re-imagined.
When imagining a role in the investment industry, you may picture a traditional financial position filled with mathematical analysis and number-crunching. But instead, let’s imagine something different. Imagine a role where your creativity is held in higher esteem than your numeracy skills. A position where your curiosity is currency and where your potential is key.
At Baillie Gifford, our work is a million miles from that stereotype of investors who constantly track markets looking for short-term gains. Instead, our focus is on developing a deep understanding of the underlying drivers behind potential investments. That means questioning everything that happens around us and anticipating the consequences of local, regional and global events. In other words, we try to foresee what the future holds.
The role
A research career.
On our Investment Research programme, around 80% of your time will be spent researching ideas, trends, companies and industries. So at Baillie Gifford, we’re less interested in what you know, than your enthusiasm to know more. For us, inspiration can come from anywhere. You’ll have to cast your net far and wide to collect information and create your own unique viewpoint. This will enable you to spot investment opportunities that others may have missed. In other words, you might be every bit as likely to find inspiration from an internet blog as you are from an industry conference.
Taking on real responsibility in your first few months, you’ll be expected to write regular reports on your research findings. This should be a familiar process for you from your experience of academic writing. You’ll then present your reports during one of your team’s regular discussions. These are where you’ll also be expected to discuss and give your opinions on other investment ideas. Your team members will vary from graduates who were in your shoes last year all the way up to partners in the firm. Every opinion is valued, as we believe any viewpoint could unearth huge opportunities.
There are two distinct career paths for Investment Research Trainees at Baillie Gifford. Graduates on our Equities programme will rotate through a series of teams researching companies that have the potential to grow significantly over the next decade. Trainees joining our Multi-Asset and Fixed Income (MAFI) programme will learn about a range of investments including equities, bonds and property. You can choose which programme you wish to apply to or, if you prefer to leave this open, we can select the one which best suits your potential.
When you join, you will be part of a culture that cares about you as an individual. You’ll work closely with senior employees and receive guidance from a programme manager, a year group mentor and a mentor within each placement; all to ensure you reach your full potential.
What you'll need to succeed
Intellectual challenge.
At Baillie Gifford, we like to see things differently. For us, it’s not about looking for graduates from a particular degree. Instead, we look for particular graduates – people who are inquisitive thinkers who have the vision to see what the future could look like. That’s why we’re just as likely to hire a musician, a doctor and a politics graduate, as we are a mathematician.
As with our investments, we’re good at spotting potential. Our graduates are given responsibility from day one, with the right support and training to ensure they flourish. So, consider your own potential. Do you ask questions, solve problems and think differently? Then we imagine you’d be a good fit for Baillie Gifford.
Salary
A competitive salary + benefits package including £3,000 sign-on bonus, 15% employer contributory pension, discretionary annual bonus and 34 days’ holiday.