Martin Currie grabs graduates
Edinburgh-based fund manager Martin Currie has revamped its graduate recruitment scheme in a bid to develop talent in-house.
The re-launched version offers trainees experience in sector-focused teams as well as offering a CFA (Chartered Financial Analyst) programme.
The firm advertises in 10 universities (although it declined to say which ones), but remains open to applicants from elsewhere. Recruits must have a minimum of a 2:1 degree, but the subjects can be wide-ranging. "We look for subjects that have both a finance and research focus. Economics and economics history, for example. We are also seeing a lot of people with MScs applying," says Katie Crook in Martin Currie's HR department.
The numbers aren't huge: Martin Currie has hired seven graduates over the past year. Off the record, insiders say the real challenge will be to retain them once the training scheme has finished. However Crooks says turnover is minimal, at just 12% to 14% across the firm as a whole.
Martin Currie's graduate aspirations suggest it's trying to emulate Scots rival Baillie Gifford, which places a strong emphasis on nurturing staff out of university - 75% of its partners came through its graduate scheme.
Baillie Gifford takes on eight graduates a year, but receives a whopping 900 applications. Successful candidates display broadmindedness and inquisitiveness, and are free thinkers with the ability to express their views, says Baillie Gifford head of graduate recruitment Richard Barry.
