Amy Begbie

When I initially applied for the summer intern programme, it was what I read about the role on the website that hooked me, not what I knew about the company, which was minimal. What I found particularly appealing was that this was a company that was more interested in me and who I was, not my degree.

It was the easiest application process for the places I applied to, and it was a lot more relaxed and personal than others. There wasn’t the automated testing typical of the recruitment process at large financial institutions. And then the interview itself was much more conversational rather than a series of questions being fired at you.

Being an intern was a great introduction to the company and its culture, so when I returned the following year as a graduate, I knew what to expect in terms of the technology I would encounter and what would be expected of me on the programme.

What I hadn’t really expected was how much of a bond I would form with my graduate cohort. When we first joined, we experienced quite an intense, to-the-point training period before we each went off on our individual rotations. Even with a technical background, there was still a lot for me to learn. We’ve stayed very close.

Baillie Gifford ensures that you have a good support system. The company emphasises good mental health and well-being through its staff networks and various employee benefits, including an employee assistance programme.

There are these shared beliefs which help cement our actions as a firm and as individuals. It’s not just about what we provide for clients, although that’s a massive part of it. The shared beliefs include Baillie Gifford being an engaging and progressive workplace, and that’s my experience of it.

Please note that any references to current teams in bios are as of the time of writing and may not reflect the current situation due to the rotational nature of the programmes.