Inside Our First Graduate Programme

Last September, we proudly welcomed our first graduate cohort to IGG, marking a new chapter in our commitment to nurturing talent, prioritising people, and building collaboration across the business. One year on, and our grads are still thriving with numerous exams passed, and the entire cohort playing an active role in shaping our culture day to day.

To celebrate this milestone, we sat down with Zoe Brown and Will Ball, to hear about their experiences, what they’ve discovered along the way, and how being part of the cohort has shaped their careers. Zoe and Will have both completed our graduate scheme and have moved into Assistant Associate roles, so congratulations are in order!

Q: What drew you to this grad program initially, and how did your expectations compare to reality?

Zoe: I was completing my final year at university, studying Geography, and I was still unsure on the career path that I wanted to go down. When I learned about IGG’s graduate scheme, it immediately stood out from the rest. I had never really considered pensions, but I liked the idea of stepping into something unfamiliar and being able to learn completely new concepts while being supported along the way.

Will: I was working for a tax firm, but I didn’t enjoy the culture. There wasn’t much flexibility or willingness to adapt to how workplaces have evolved. However I’d seen positive snippets about IGG on LinkedIn and the IGG website itself and thought it looked like a fun and supportive working environment. The pensions industry was something I had never experienced before as well, and diving into something completely new really appealed.

Q: How did you then find settling in?

Zoe: Having my buddy was amazing. Being able to shadow and start putting into practice what we were learning made a huge difference. It meant things never felt too full-on, and we always had someone to turn to when we needed support. We were also assigned mentors, and mine being Mark Englebretson has been a massive support throughout. He’s always been there if I’ve had questions, with regular check-ins and helping me prep for exams. And my line manager, Bang, has been so helpful in guiding me throughout the programme and always helping me set realistic goals (and actually achieve them!). Finally, all my scheme teams were great throughout the programme too – they always made sure I felt comfortable asking questions and never made me feel out of my depth.

Q: What skills did the grad programme teach you?

Will: Working with multiple teams has been a great learning experience. Every scheme is different, in size, type of appointment, or technical complexity and collaborating across them has taught me the importance of adaptability. The work we do is constantly changing, so being able to adjust my approach depending on the people and circumstances. It’s helped me tackle challenges effectively and stay flexible.

Zoe: I’d say my communication skills have come a long way. Working across multiple schemes and juggling different tasks with different teams means I’ve had to stay organised and collaborate lots to ensure tasks get done on time! I might be handling invoicing, drafting papers for meeting packs and agendas, or liaising with scheme advisers to make sure deadlines and expectations are met. I often draft policies, take minutes or assist with high-level note taking during meetings, and get involved in discretionary case work. There’s also plenty of organising, from scheduling meetings to attending regular catch-ups with scheme advisers and teams. Alongside that, I support budget work and contribute to ESOG-related projects. It’s a real mix, and no two days ever feel quite the same! On the technical side, I started with pretty basic excel skills, but I’m now working with excel on a day-to-day basis. I’ve picked up a lot more shortcuts and tricks than I’d expected – though I still have lots to learn.

My confidence has also grown. When I first started, it was quite daunting to put forward ideas and opinions but being in an encouraging environment surrounded by supportive teams has meant I have been able to do that!

Q: What’s one challenge you didn’t expect but learned a lot from?

Zoe: I didn’t anticipate there being as many pension scheme deadlines that need to be met. Managing multiple schemes at once has been challenging at times and at first it felt a bit overwhelming, but it’s pushed me to become more organised and better at managing my time.

Q: Can you tell us about a project or task that really pushed you out of your comfort zone?

Will: I’d say the late retirement deed task took me out of my comfort zone. It was my first time dealing with that kind of documentation, and there were a lot of specific details and signing policies to get right. It felt a bit daunting at first, but once I got into it, it really helped me understand how important accuracy and process are in our work.

Q: Who or what has been most influential in shaping your experience here?

Zoe: When I first joined, our L&D Manager Mark Minchin was such a help and really shaped my experience from the start. Coming straight out of university into a work environment could’ve easily felt overwhelming, especially with all the new and sometimes quite complex concepts we were learning. The graduate scheme structure was paced perfectly so that it never felt like too much at once.

Our external graduate mentor was brilliant for helping us build all the soft skills such as collaboration, time management, presenting, and general teamwork. It gave us a space where we could properly focus on developing those skills and figure out how to get the most out of the programme. We got to reflect on areas we wanted to improve and how to do that. Being able to listen and share experiences with the other grads was a good way to bounce ideas around and pick up tips as we all learned together. It improved my confidence, especially when it came to working in teams.

Q: Looking back, what’s a highlight from your first few months?

Will: I have a few… on the non-work side, it was participating in a football match with colleagues and industry friends, which was a great way to connect and strengthen relationships across teams.

But from a work point of view, within my first few months I was getting more involved on the technical side of the work. I reached a point where I could take ownership of a key process for one of my largest schemes and rely less on my buddy for support — it was a real milestone in building my confidence and independence.

Q: Do you have any memorable moments from the past year?

Zoe: Yes! I really enjoyed the first social I attended which was shuffleboard, even though I was terrible at it. It was a great opportunity to introduce myself.

I’ve also loved exploring the city and discovering new food spots with some of my colleagues. My personal favourites so far have been Farmer J’s (recommended by Maria) and Sandwich Sandwich (recommended by Archie).

In addition, I’ve had the chance to attend some really valuable networking events, one of my favourites was a rooftop event with my colleague Akash Rooprai, where I met new people in the industry, learned about different roles and heard some incredible stories.

Q: What’s a moment from this grad program that made you feel proudest?

Will: One of my proudest moments was finishing the graduate programme and stepping into the role of Assistant Associate.  It felt like a reward for all the effort and growth over the year. Passing the RPC exam in March was another highlight, as it really boosted my confidence in my understanding of pensions.

Q: How has this program influenced what you want to do next in your career?

Zoe: I want to keep developing my knowledge and understanding of the pensions industry. I didn’t quite appreciate how much there is to it until I got started, and now that I’m on this career path, I’ve found it’s constantly changing and always keeps you busy which I love! The graduate scheme gave me the chance to take a leap into something I wouldn’t normally have considered, and I’m glad I did as it has opened up a whole new area for me.  I’m excited to keep learning and developing as I continue my career within the pensions industry.

Will: This experience has given me a chance to think about what I would like to do going forward in the future within pensions and the finance industry. The job is constantly changing and therefore my perspective is always changing, However, my ambitions will likely remain the same – progressing with IGG and seeing what the pensions space can bring.

Q: Finally, if you could give your “first-day self” one piece of advice, what would it be?

Zoe: I got told at the start that everyone will be willing to help, and everyone is genuinely happy to help – just make sure you lean into their support and ask for the help.  I’d also tell myself to not worry about knowing everything straight away and that the scheme is designed to support and help you develop. And to always ask the question, even if it might seem silly!

Reflecting on our first graduate cohort, it’s clear that success is never just about individuals, it’s about the people, support, and culture that surround them. From our dedicated colleagues, line managers, mentors to buddies, everyone has played a part in helping.

Their achievements, from technical milestones to personal growth and progressing to the next stage of their roles showcase what happens when development, collaboration, and excellence are prioritised at every level.

As we look to the future, we are already thinking about the next graduate cohorts. For those curious, ambitious, and ready to embrace new challenges, this programme offers the chance to grow, learn, and make a real impact with a community ready to support you every step of the way.

To find out more please reach-out to our HR Team via HR@weareigg.com