Graduate Programme 2026 in London

Application deadline: Friday, 13 February 2026, although we may close applications earlier dependent on the number received.

An opportunity to make a difference. Are you looking to start your career at an organisation where you can make a positive difference to people and our planet? Are you curious, numerate, keen to learn, a self‐motivated team player who loves reading and researching? Can you develop ideas into strong proposals backed by data? If this sounds like you, then we're keen to hear from you. Whether or not you've already considered working in finance and investments, we're looking for individuals that are excited by a challenge and ready to make an impact.

Our focus is to secure the futures of over a million local government employees - people who have provided valuable service to their communities and society. We're a c.£60bn global asset owner, and the largest UK asset manager outside London or Edinburgh. We provide innovative investments that aim to deliver sustainable returns over the long term.

The application process for our 2026 Graduate programme, starting in September, is now open. The programme provides a solid foundation for a career in investment management including training and accredited qualifications. Our Graduates join us on a permanent contract from day one. Following completion of the graduate programme, you would then progress into a full‐time role as an investment analyst.

Diverse thinking is essential for great investment outcomes, so we encourage applications from graduates of all degree backgrounds (and we don't require a 2:1 or higher). At Border to Coast, we believe investment skills can be taught. Our only pre‐requisite is that you have an interest in investment.

As a customer‐owned and customer‐focused organisation, integrity is one of our values, as is collaborative and sustainable approach. Border to Coast is the largest LGPS (Local Government Pension Scheme) pool in the UK. We are owned by 11 Local Government Pension Schemes ('Partner Funds') who represent 3,100 employers and over a million members.

The Partner Funds have c.£64bn in investments, of which Border to Coast is responsible for managing and overseeing £55.4bn (as of 31 March 2025). In October 2025, we confirmed that seven additional LGPS funds would join the partnership following the outcome of the Government‐led 'Fit for the Future' consultation. The seven funds (Cambridgeshire, East Sussex, Essex, Hertfordshire, Kent, Northamptonshire, and West Sussex) will formally join as Partner Funds in April 2026. They represent 900,000 members employed at 2,500 participating employers with c.£45bn of assets. Together, the 18 Partner Funds will have more than £110bn of assets, strengthening our partnership's ability to harness scale to be more effective, more resilient, and more impactful.

Our purpose is to make a difference for the LGPS. We seek to do this by providing cost‐effective and innovative investment opportunities delivering returns over the long term for Partner Funds, their employers and over 1.1 million LGPS members. We offer investment opportunities across equities, fixed income, private markets, and global and UK real estate. Responsible Investment is central to our work and is embedded in how we invest across our range of assets.

In the last year, the Border to Coast team has won an IPE Silver Award for the UK Real Estate proposition, and the LAPF Investments Outstanding Contribution award for its report 'Unlocking UK Growth'. It was also shortlisted for Pool of the Year at the LGC Investment Awards.

The Border to Coast graduate programme is focused on developing knowledge, skills and behaviours in different areas of investment to make a difference to our Partner Funds' investment outcomes.

Our graduate trainees are immersed in and gain hands‐on experience of multiple investment concepts and teams to build skills, knowledge of the industry, what our Partner Funds need and how to develop ideas into compelling proposals. Over the course of the programme, our Graduate Analysts rotate through functions within our investment team. This includes a foundation rotation in Equity and Fixed Income research working closely with Responsible Investment and learning about Portfolio Risk and Portfolio Management. Graduate Analysts then rotate through teams leading manager selection, Customer Relationship Management, and Alternative Investments. You will work alongside expert colleagues with a wealth of experience in each field to gain hands‐on experience.

Personal and professional development are key features of the programme. This includes on‐the‐job training and fully funded qualifications that complement the programme – namely the Investment Management Certificate (IMC) Level 1, and the Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) Levels 1, 2 and 3. Paid study leave is available.

You'll have support throughout the programme to set you on the path for success. The long‐term career development of our graduates is important to us, and so we offer ongoing training in communication, personal, professional and career development skills on top of support for formal qualifications. Following completion of the graduate programme, you will then progress into a full‐time permanent role.

As a Border to Coast graduate trainee, you will receive competitive remuneration and have access to excellent benefits:

• Hybrid working (our policy is for colleagues to be in the office more often than not)
• Onsite gym
• Cycle to work scheme
• Holidays: 30 days per year plus Bank Holidays
• Sustainable travel plans (Bike2Work scheme)
• Stunning Leeds city centre location only a short walk to the train station
• Range of discounts for Leeds gyms, shops and restaurants
• Critical Illness Cover
• Life Assurance of six‐times of salary
• Employee Assistance Programme
• Pension scheme
• Vitality Health Insurance

We welcome applications from graduates of all degrees and backgrounds. We value diversity of thought and seek to ensure colleagues maintain a positive work life balance. We encourage colleagues to progress, be themselves and be their best through both personal and professional development.

We are committed to creating an inclusive and engaging workplace. If you have a disability, or if you have a condition that you believe may affect your performance during the selection process, we are happy to discuss making reasonable adjustments for you. Please contact our recruitment team at recruitment@bordertocoast.org.uk.

We're looking for people with the right values, behaviours, skills and experiences. If you're interested in our graduate programme, we'd welcome your application.

The application process for the 2026 Graduate Analyst Programme is open. Apply online through the links on this page.

Step 1: Initial application. Complete the online application form. The closing date for applications is Friday, 13 February, although we may close applications earlier depending on the number we receive. Please note that we can only accept applications from individuals who have the right to work in the UK without requiring visa sponsorship.

Step 2: Online aptitude assessment. You'll receive an email from TestGorilla with instructions about an online assessment. This will take around 40 minutes to complete and assesses numeracy, verbal reasoning and critical thinking. We have a holistic approach to the online selection process and take into consideration all elements of the aptitude assessment. So, if you stumble on a question in the tests, please keep going!

Step 3: Personal Statement. If you are successful in the online assessment you will then be emailed with a brief, asking you to write and submit a short personal statement (300‐500 words). We ask that you submit your personal statement within two weeks of being sent the brief.

Step 4: Graduate Assessment Day. Next there's an in‐person assessment day at the Border to Coast offices in central Leeds. You'll know by Thursday, 12 March if you've been invited to attend. The assessment days take place on Wednesday, 25 March and Thursday, 26 March, although you will only need to attend on one of these days. You'll receive full details in advance about what to expect and how to prepare for the assessment. Please reserve the dates in your diary to ensure you will be available should you be successful in reaching this stage.

Step 5: Following the assessment day. After the assessment day, you'll find out by Thursday, 2 April if you've been successful. Your start date will be early September, 2026. If you're not successful this time around, you'll receive helpful feedback on how you did at the assessment day and are welcome to apply again.