Investment Intern Review

The internship was well organised and structured and I enjoyed all the tasks I was set, as well as the various insights sessions organised for us by the company. The work environment was friendly and sociable, and a great place to learn more about the industry.

My team, as well as the wider M&G community, were very welcoming and helped me settle in quickly, and I immediately felt like part of the company rather than an outsider. The work I did felt useful and genuinely appreciated.

My team were excellent in helping me with anything I asked them, and were always happy to listen to my (often pretty senseless!) questions and were always generous with their time. On top of this, higher management took an active interest in my progress, and would often arrange to catch up on how I was finding things. HR were also always there to help with any other problems I had.

Although work flow varied somewhat due to inflows of new business, I never had a period where I had nothing to do. My team were always willing to give me more tasks if I felt that needed more, and were equally happy to help if I needed assistance!

The work I undertook on the internship was not inconsequential, as it may be on other internships. My tasks were important to the team, and I worked to deadlines imposed by the business.

During the internship various insights were organised into the different areas of business at M&G. Regardless of department or asset class all of the interns were given talks by representatives from HR, Compliance, Business Change and Risk, as well as various smaller talks by different teams within the Fixed Income, Equites, Real Estate and Multi-Asset divisions.

M&G is renown for its friendlier culture compared to some of its competitors, and this is borne out in the atmosphere of the office. People are very professional and driven, but at the same time more willing to take time out to help you out if you have a problem. Teams are collaborative rather than competitive, which means that there is a good relationship across the floor.

The internship was well organised, with lots of different opportunities offered to the interns, and a structured programme of talks, meetings and lunches with different parts of the business.

M&G has very low turnover of staff, which was felt even in the internship. The company clearly wanted all of us to succeed and hopefully join the business at some time in the future. As a result it felt like the company was investing in us for the long term, helping us improve both of financial 'hard' skills as well as our 'soft' skills such as presenting.

M&G is a market leader in its sector, and its graduate scheme is well regarded as offering a balanced and comprehensive introduction to the industry. M&G also helps you train for the CFA level 1 qualification, and gives you time off to prepare for it, which is very attractive. It is a growing business, and is taking on graduates every year, and looks to invest in you over the longer term, rather than the more short term approaches of some of its competitors.

M&G organised several events for interns, including a table tennis competition near the beginning of the internship, a film night and pub quiz in the penultimate week. Beyond this, amongst ourselves we organised several nights out together, including a laser question evening against graduates from M&G and a night out with other interns from other companies. Some additional events organised centrally would have been appreciated nearer the beginning of the internship to help the interns all get to know each other.

Being based in London, the cost of living is obviously higher than other parts of the country (and indeed the world) although you are compensated for the higher costs.

London has an endless supply of bars and clubs, and several pubs near work were very popular with M&G employees (although on the pricier side being in the City).

M&G organised events centrally through its Sports and Social club, such as Brewery tours and cricket competitions, which interns were invited to get involved in. We also informally organised events amongst ourselves on weekends and in the evenings. There is always a lot going on in London!