Software Development.
Turn theory into practice.

I hadn’t heard of Baillie Gifford before I met them at the Scottish Graduate Fair in Glasgow. I applied for internships at a lot of different companies, but Baillie Gifford seemed to be one of the most supportive – they provide interns with lots of learning and development opportunities. It’s not a small company, but I felt like it was a place where I could get noticed. It proved to be the right instinct – I went on to gain a place on the graduate programme and now I work with the firm full time.

The internship exceeded my expectations. The majority of the sessions and workshops planned for the full ten-week placement had been successfully condensed into four virtual weeks. We had sessions and meetings with people from right across the business, including partners and department managers. It became clear that the firm work hard to create an environment where you can flourish as an individual – they value your input and they support your ambition. It really sets Baillie Gifford apart.

During my placement I really improved my self-awareness and self-belief. I’ve realised I can do this as a career and be successful. One of our virtual workshops was a CliftonStrengths assessment, that involved completing an interesting, detailed survey. After completing the survey, we were taken through the results on an individual basis. Mine showed I have a strong aptitude for relationship building. I didn’t realise all of my strengths – and it’s been really helpful to get this insight into myself and the way I work.

Together with the other Application Development Intern, I worked on a project to develop an app where people can buy and sell shares. The application was built using React, Firebase and a public API. It allowed users to search for a company by its name and then display the related results. Users were then able to buy shares in that company, which would be added to their portfolio. They were also able to view their portfolio, keep track of its performance and sell their shares. At the end of the project, we presented the React application to the internship leaders and our mentor.

When researching the Summer Placement at Baillie Gifford, the opportunity to take a project from start to finish was what attracted me. I liked the long-term approach of the firm and how they see the bigger picture. When I applied, the interview process was very relaxed. It was less about my technical ability and more of a conversation. I thought if I enjoyed the interview, I’m sure I’ll enjoy working there.

A couple of months before I started my placement, I met with some of the people I would be working with to find out about the project I’d be involved in. The task was to create an interactive investment game to explain investment management for schools, inductions and university events. That meant I had a month before the placement to prepare and do some online tutorials in the tech skills I’d need. It felt great to be working on such an interesting project and hit the ground running.

Although every week was full of new things to learn, there was a clear structure to keep you on track. At the beginning of the week, I would meet with my mentor to go through my current tasks. I also got to meet people from different teams two to three times a week which helped me understand the business on a broader level and helped us develop the content of the investment game we were building. Then, at the end of the week, I’d have a retrospective with my project supervisors to review the work and plan where to go next.

One of the most challenging things for me was learning to ask for help. My instinct had always been to work things out myself, but I can’t afford to spend a lot of time on a small problem during a big project. Asking for help is encouraged here – it’s how you learn. My team is supportive and always there to help me with anything I don’t understand or to just point me in the right direction. Learning this lesson has made me better at what I do.

It was great to choose some of the technologies we used on the project. As well as React and Redux, I got the chance to use Django for the back end and worked with Docker for deployment. I also worked on APIs and really consolidated my understanding of connecting front and backend systems. After the summer placement, I felt the company was a great fit for me, so I was delighted when I got a place on the graduate programme. Looking back almost three years on, the summer placement was a great indicator of what it’s like to work at Baillie Gifford full time.

I found out about Baillie Gifford through word of mouth as one of my friends joined the firm through the graduate programme. I did a bit of research, and the company’s Shared Beliefs, particularly their customer-focused approach, really resonated with me. At the time, I had a part-time job in the leisure industry and understood the importance of putting customers first. In addition, the application process was very straightforward and relaxed, which suited my personality and allowed me to show who I really am.

Since I was sixteen, I've worked as a lifeguard, so understandably, I had some apprehension about my first office-based role. It’s a very different environment! But I was soon at ease as everyone was so welcoming and encouraged me to ask lots of questions. In addition, it was interesting to meet people from different departments within the firm and better understand the business. I was lucky enough to spend time with an investment manager, a senior trader in the Trading Department and the Settlements Central Support manager. With the Trading department, I even helped put a real trade through, which was very exciting.

During the placement, I worked on a project for the Client Department Support team. Our task was to create an events management system from scratch, where ticket availability can be posted, people can express interest and then tickets can be allocated. It was really satisfying to work on a real, live project from beginning to end.

My experience during the internship was so good that I applied for the graduate programme and was lucky enough to get a place. Thanks to the knowledge I’d gained during the internship, I could pick up where I left off when I re-joined as a graduate trainee. The opportunities here are leaps and bounds ahead of anything I had in previous roles. I want to work with like-minded people, and I want to give everything to my job and do the best I can. Everyone at Baillie Gifford feels the same.

My expectations of being a graduate have surpassed what I was anticipating. Baillie Gifford gives you continuous development throughout the graduate programme, not only in technical aspects but in soft skills as well. The skills that are being developed are put into fruition as you get to join several teams where you are given hands-on experience working in a team and developing different in-house projects. You are encouraged to take control of your learning by selecting what relevant technologies or skills you would like to be upskilled in. Baillie Gifford are not a silent stakeholder in your development but supports you in this process to give you the tools and guidance on where to go to meet your development needs.