2026 Graduate Programme - United Kingdom

We’re now welcoming applications for our 2026 UK Graduate Programme. You will be applying for the UK office in London, where you will join one of our brilliant teams. During the graduate programme, you will get the opportunity to work on high-stakes, business-critical projects that span some of the world’s largest companies and most complex situations faced by organisations. You’ll encounter issues that make up the global news agenda of the time. The UK graduate programme is based in London but offers our graduates the opportunity to work with colleagues and clients around our international offices. We are a global business, and we work collaboratively across time zones.

Throughout your application for the UK Graduate programme, you will have the opportunity to indicate a preference for one of three pathways:

• Core consulting – most of FGS Global’s UK activity takes place on this pathway, including Transaction & Financial Communications, Strategy & Reputation and Crisis & Issues Management practices.
• Digital & creative – This pathway is an opportunity to join the Edmonds Elder by FGS Global team, working across digital strategy, content development and campaign execution.
• UK Public Affairs – This pathway is to work as part of our specialist public affairs offering, which helps clients engage with the UK political environment.

The graduate programme will begin with two joint-training weeks for all participants to truly immerse you in our culture and the type of work we do. Following this, you’ll spend six months in a structured training and mentorship programme along one of our three pathways, learning both on-the-job and through formal trainings to help develop your knowledge and skillset across communications. This will be across a range of audiences including those involved in public affairs, the media, investors, employees and government.

Our people love the work they do, and the people they do it with, so you’ll have plenty of opportunities to get to know your local and global colleagues both socially and professionally. Through the application process, we select individuals for this programme that we believe will pioneer the future of FGS Global. The intention is for us to invest in your development, and for you to receive a truly immersive learning experience that challenges you and allows you to demonstrate your own entrepreneurial flare. The expectation is that you continue with us after the programme ends as a full-time Associate without any further interviews or assessment.

Who are we looking for?

We are looking for motivated and proactive graduates who welcome a steep learning curve and the chance to collaborate with a wide range of people. All roles require individuals who are interested and engaged in how different stakeholders communicate – be it through news outlets, investor presentations, social media, keynote events, or face-to-face conversations. We want applicants who are interested in the news agenda, and track emerging issues and current challenges facing society today. We want people who will bring their own dynamism and knowledge of how companies and organisations communicate, for example the changing world of digital and social media communications.

Our core pathway is suited to a wide range of backgrounds and skillsets in line with the criteria above, while the Digital & creative pathway is best suited to those with a flair for creative thinking or an interest in focusing on digital mediums or content production. While not explicitly required, UK Public Affairs pathway applicants will benefit from a strong understanding of the Westminster system and UK political dynamics. Successful candidates will be able to demonstrate that they embody the values our people live by: being ambitious together, working hard while keeping energy levels high, striving for excellence and taking responsibility in all they do. We care for and uplift those around us, and expect anyone who joins our team to do their part.

What we offer you in return

We are a diverse, dynamic and caring group of people. We motivate each other, strive to deliver to a brilliant standard and we take the time to celebrate together and learn lessons to improve. You will have the opportunity to work with leading communications professionals, learning from the brightest minds in the industry who come from a diverse background. You will be working on a diverse mix of clients, across industries, sectors and geographies. You will have continuous training and development throughout the programme, with dedicated mentors. You will be given the platform to innovate and trusted to demonstrate your entrepreneurial flare. You will have access to a range of office perks including regular team socials, free tickets to exhibitions, company discounts, and flexible working policies. A competitive salary benchmarked against others in the industry, and we review Associate salaries every six months in line with formal appraisals. We also offer a number of other benefits including gym membership and private health and dental care.

At the beginning of the programme, we require you to be in the office full time. After this, we expect all colleagues to be in the office the majority of the working week, however we do offer flexibility to work from home at least one day a week.

Visa, language and relocation requirements

Fluent and native-standard English is essential. Candidates must have a right to work in the UK. Candidates must be able to relocate by the end of August 2026 to begin work on September 8th 2026.

Application Process

Step 1. We have developed an FGS Global-specific task that is designed to highlight the brightest, most creative graduates. It will be an opportunity for you to demonstrate your research skills, creative thinking and ability to communicate complex ideas in a simple way. This must be completed in a presentation. We will also ask you to fill out a short form and send us your CV. We appreciate the task takes a lot of work, but it gives us the opportunity to assess in a completely blind way based on your abilities and talents. Presentations and CVs must be submitted in PDF format. This application must be completed by Thursday 15th January at 23:59 GMT – late applications will not be accepted. Our Step 1 review process is entirely anonymous. All application tasks and CVs are assessed blindly with personal identifying information removed prior to review.

Step 2. Successful candidates will be interviewed virtually between 3rd and 28th February 2026 and told whether they are through to the final shortlist for our assessment day. You will also take an online scenario test simulating tasks we undertake.

Step 3. We will host an in-person assessment day at our London office on 25th April 2026. Further details of the assessment day will be announced in due course. Successful applicants will start full time on 8th September 2026.

FGS Global is the world’s leading stakeholder strategy firm, with approximately 1,400 professionals around the world, advising clients in navigating critical issues and reputational challenges. FGS was formed from the combination of Finsbury, The Glover Park Group, Hering Schuppener and Sard Verbinnen & Co to offer board-level and C-suite counsel in all aspects of stakeholder strategy — including corporate reputation, crisis management, and public affairs and is also the leading force in transaction and financial communications worldwide. FGS offers seamless and integrated support with offices in various locations globally.