Baillie Gifford & Co

• Name: LAURA JOHNSTONE
• Role: Graduate Trainee, Investment Operations
• Joined: 2015
• University: University of Aberdeen
• Degree: Accountancy & Management

A unique opportunity
I wasn’t at all sure what I wanted to do after graduation, and didn’t fully appreciate what Investment Operations is. Because it’s so broad, and covers so many different disciplines, the idea of a rotational programme appealed to me as it would allow me to experience different areas of this investment business. It’s an amazing opportunity and I haven’t seen anything like this offered elsewhere.

Interested in you
On day one I was nervous but you soon meet up with the other new graduates and your manager and it doesn’t feel like a big firm (although there are nearly 1,000 people). There are lots of opportunities to meet colleagues throughout the business including senior partners who are genuinely interested in you and your development.

Responsibility from day one
My first placement was in the Client Administration department, and I was given my own funds to look after for three months. You’re given responsibility right away, and I particularly enjoyed contributing at meetings, and having my ideas taken seriously.

Exploring options
Right now I’m finishing my placement in Finance and I’ve presented back on what I’ve learnt here. The focus on learning is important. Although I had an understanding of the basics from my degree, I’m gaining even more knowledge through studying for external industry qualifications too. It’s still early days – and I’m planning to take as much as I can from each rotation. It’s about discovering what you enjoy, what skills you want to develop and where you can make a positive impact.

• Name: LUCY ISLES
• Role: Investment Manager
• Joined: 2012
• University: University of St Andrews
• Degree: MA Joint Honours in International Relations and Modern History

Intellectual stimulus
I wasn’t sure what I wanted to do when I graduated, but I knew what I wanted out of a career: intellectual stimulus, variety, travel and a holistic view of how the world works. Investment management at Baillie Gifford ticked all of these boxes.

Diverse experience
Before I joined Baillie Gifford, I’d spent my summers doing a lot of charity and community work and worked abroad in various capacities. I also had political experience in the House of Commons, and I come from a musical background. I didn’t have any financial or investment experience, which is commonplace at Baillie Gifford but unusual for the broader industry.

Holistic picture
There is a huge amount of variety in my role. A large part of it is carrying out in-depth research into a wide variety of companies. This can involve travelling to their HQ and meeting management, opening discussions with competitors, suppliers and customers, as well as attending industry conferences to build up a holistic picture. Now that I’ve been promoted to Investment Manager level, I consider how the complexities and idiosyncrasies of each individual investment case fit together within the context of the portfolio.

Finding the right balance
What’s important here is that your curiosity is not constrained. Every company you research gives you the chance to learn something new about the world. Achieving a healthy work/life balance is a key priority for the firm too. We’re encouraged to find that balance as it helps us to make better decisions when we are in the office.

Constantly learning
All of our training is ongoing and kept in house. The firm has a flat structure – graduate trainees sit alongside partners with 30 years of experience, so they can learn and benefit from their wealth of knowledge on a daily basis. I’ve also passed the Chartered Financial Analyst Level 1 exam, for which Baillie Gifford provided the tutors, books and study time.

• Name: MAXINE REID
• Role: Trainee Technical Analyst
• Joined: 2014
• University: Glasgow Caledonian University

LEARNING IN ACTION
When I think about it, I’m amazed at how much I’ve achieved during my time here. I enjoy pushing myself and I’ve challenged myself on C# and SQL in particular. I’ve found that there are lots of opportunities to learn about new technologies, as well as build from scratch. Unlike what happens at university where it’s all just theory, it’s great to see something that’s going to be used within the business.

CAREER DEVELOPMENT
I recently had the opportunity to work in our small New York office on a three-month secondment. That was an amazing experience at every level. I was the face of IT, and didn’t want to let the IS team down! I worked closely with a third-party support vendor, as well as implementing new tech including Cisco Meraki and an ACS server. It was interesting work and I learned a lot in a short time. I would thoroughly recommend this to any future graduate.

DELIVERING EXPERTISE
Back in Edinburgh, I’m working on rolling out the cloud networking Meraki system to this office and beyond. I’m also part of a project team rolling out Bomgar for remote support. It’s really good to be the networking team member on these kind of projects. I enjoy pushing myself and I’m pleased at the breadth of day-to-day tasks generally. I want to continue to learn about technologies used within the server or networking teams, and improve my trouble-shooting skills.

• Name: TOM DAVIES
• Role: Application Developer
• Joined: 2013
• University: Manchester Metropolitan University
• Degree: BSc Business Information Technology

WHAT DOES YOUR JOB INVOLVE?
I create bespoke software applications, working closely with the business to understand users’ needs and develop innovative new technological solutions.

EMERGING TECHNOLOGIES
Since I’ve been here I’ve had the opportunity to work with advanced technologies including C# and new Oracle releases, and the latest software and database developments, liaising with a number of different business areas.

EXPLORING
I had a number of internships at university, so I realised that I wanted a role where I could be creative and work closely with business users within a highly innovative environment. Baillie Gifford gives me that every day.

NO GRADUATE STIGMA
You can take on as much responsibility as you want and the support is there when you need it. No one says ‘you’re a grad trainee’ - everyone is treated the same – but equally you can’t use it as an excuse! My contribution isn’t capped and I’m encouraged to suggest new things.

A GREAT PLACE TO LIVE
I’d never been to Edinburgh before and when I came here for my first interview and walked around the city centre, I loved it right away. I didn’t know anyone at first but quickly built a wide circle of friends. I can’t imagine living anywhere else now.