Spring Insight Programme Review

The GFA Insight Programme was incredibly enjoyable and informative. The week was well-planned and balanced between engaging presentations, skills sessions, networking, work-shadowing, group project work and even a rewarding morning of volunteering. In addition, everyone on the programme was very friendly which made it a warm and welcoming atmosphere.

The company invested a great deal of time and energy into us, and HR were always on hand if we needed anything or had any questions. We were given the opportunity to speak to a huge number of employees, from graduate analysts right through to senior Directors, and we definitely felt very welcome!

We had many opportunities to ask as many questions as we liked, and were supported with skills sessions such as a presentation training workshop. While we were largely left to our own devices to work on our group projects, we were able to ask for help from anyone when we needed to, and the process of working on the project without much hand-holding also allowed us to learn a huge amount in a short space of time.

While I do not study a finance-related degree, I definitely feel that the skills learnt such as synthesising and evaluating information, presentation tips, and interview techniques are incredibly useful and applicable to any field of study. In addition, I came away with a much more informed understanding of the financial advisory industry and a base upon which I can deepen my knowledge further.

The Insight Programme was very well-structured, incorporating a wide range of activities whilst not being too jam-packed. We were given a timetable at the beginning which was followed to the letter, and no presentation ever felt too long or short. We were also given ample time to work on our projects.

It was a wonderful week of not just learning, but also fun! The cohort was very friendly and we all got along very well, which made the activities more enjoyable and made for an amazing overall experience.

We were given an interactive presentation workshop which was genuinely insightful, and the multitude of presentations which enhanced our knowledge of everything from the M&A process to reading the FT demonstrated Rothschild's investment in our personal development.

The vast amount of exposure we were given to analysts through to Directors, meant that we gained an insight into the array of opportunities at Rothschild and the nature of a full-time role. We were free to ask any questions we had and everyone was very open about the demanding, but rewarding nature of the work.

I think this was one of the most eye-opening aspects of the programme, as the inclusive and collegiate culture was immediately apparent and only became more clear as the week progressed.

The week was very informative, and the presentations and Q&A opportunities helped me to gain a realistic insight into this career path. I came into the programme curious about the industry, but still unclear about what a career in finance would entail, and I definitely feel like I left with all my questions answered!

There were many opportunities, from lunch with graduate analysts through to afternoon tea with Directors.

All the networking opportunities were very well run and well-received, and it felt like the employees at Rothschild were very open to any questions and were genuinely interested in speaking with us. There was also a fun social event for the cohort to get to know each other on the first night.

We discovered the volunteering opportunities available at Rothschild, with many employees giving up their time for activities such as tutoring underprivileged students. We were given the opportunity to spend a morning volunteering at Body & Soul, which really emphasised the genuine desire of the company to involve itself in the community.

Without a doubt!