FRC Trading Intern Review

The internship was very enjoyable, both in terms of the work/ learning done on the desk and also the general intern activities. I found the trading game to be particularly fun in that it enabled interns to develop their view on the markets. (The game is based on real market movements/events).

It is somewhat difficult to do work that is particularly of value/ useful due to the restrictions in place for non-regulated individuals. However, what I could do was appreciated and all employees were open to discussing their roles and the ideas/ suggestions I had.

We were assigned a line manager, buddy (usually on the grad program) and also a mentor, so there were plenty of different people there to help out. On top of that, the rest of both the teams I was on were equally as willing to help/ discuss ideas.

I always had something to do/ learn- even if you're not having a particularly busy day, it's easy to approach other members of the business to learn about what they do. Workload in terms of producing reports/ excel analysis varied across the interns and the desks.

It differed from desk to desk but it wasn't uncommon for interns to be given tasks that included distributing/producing reports that were sent out to (and used) by their whole team (globally as well as just the London office).

My market awareness and conceptual understanding of how different asset classes relate have really improved over the course of the internship. In addition, the theory I learnt on the more quantitative desks is very useful for the finance modules I'll be studying in my final year at university. In general, everything I learned will be helpful throughout a career in an investment bank.

Every desk I sat with was friendly, helpful and approachable. The hierachy on each desk is not too noticable either- everyone from graduates to MDs were willing to sit with interns and discuss their thoughts.

The organisation was excellent, with regular calendar updates and emails sent out to confirm events/ activities. Everything ran on time and there was never any confusion regarding event details/locations.

We were sent on an Excel training course, spent a day doing personal development activites and regularly attended presentations/ meetings to maximise what we could get out of the internship.

UBS is an extremely progressive Investment bank to work at, providing plenty of opportunities to develop your career and potentially relocate globally. The teams are varied and diverse and everyone is both friendly and happy to help out.

Along with the social events organised as part of the internship, interns tended to socialise each week, whether after work in Broadgate circle, or getting together on an evening/weekend for dinner/ nights out. The UBS-run socials were great fun, and in fantastic locations (the first was on HMS Belfast).

It's London so it isn't cheap. However, nearby student halls provide summer accommodation at fairly reasonable rates, and the cost of eating is up to individuals- if you're on a budget, it's fine to bring lunch in, otherwise there are plenty of options near the office that are cheap enough.

There's a huge variety of Nightlife in London- there's something for everyone for sure.

The opportunities are definitely there, more so once you're a full time employee.