From nerves to knowledge: my three weeks at Carbon

I learnt many valuable lessons during my three-week internship at Carbon. Varying from how to create a capital gains report to where not to sit at a Trainspotting Fringe show.

Being at Carbon opened my eyes to many financial processes I hadn’t learnt in the classroom but also, how important a good work culture and team really is. From the second I walked into Carbon, I was immediately put at ease.

I was taken on a tour of the Edinburgh office by Essi, which included fully stocked coffee stations and fridges, invitingly furnished client meeting rooms, and a relaxed reception area. This felt like it positively affected both clients and staff who were smiling and welcoming as I passed through the office for the first time.

The client support team in the Edinburgh office welcomed me with open arms. Fraser and Fiona were my assigned buddies, and they showed me the ropes on my first day
and they were always ready to answer my many questions during my internship.

Throughout my time at Carbon, I met nearly everyone who works there, whether in meetings, teams call, or while passing through the office at the coffee machine or on the stairs. I felt a bit like Truman, with people asking how I was getting on or if I wanted to go for lunch with them. It quickly became clear that employees genuinely enjoy working at Carbon, a fact reflected in their high staff retention.

Carbon cultivates a healthy culture by making people feel valued and seen, and part of a very close-knit team. In just three weeks, I experienced this firsthand at a team lunch, a planner training day, and a memorable night out at the Fringe.

One insight I gained from speaking with planners was how they strive to shift clients’ perspectives on money. Many clients arrive with unhealthy perceptions of money, but at Carbon, it’s viewed as a tool to create happiness. This philosophy is reflected in the questions planners ask, such as “What is your dream holiday destination?” or “What tops your bucket list?” These are not the usual questions associated with financial planning, yet these discussions show what truly matters. Why accumulate investment returns without using them to enrich life?

Meeting people from different teams gave me a greater appreciation of how each role connects and contributes to delivering outstanding client service and advancing the business. Carbon places equal importance on caring for existing clients as it does on welcoming new ones, a commitment that is essential for building long-lasting trust and relationships.

Whether through regular check-ins or thoughtfully remembering significant events such as big birthdays, it’s evident that Carbon doesn’t just grab your money and run.

Investment Director, John Bell assigned me two major tasks during my internship, both investment-focused. One involved researching sustainable investing, where the term “greenwashing” frequently appeared. Greenwashing is a tactic companies use to appear environmentally friendly without truly reducing their impact, it’s essentially the environmentally friendly version of catfishing. The lack of strong regulation means investors need to conduct thorough research to make genuinely sustainable choices. This was an eye-opening lesson in the complexities of sustainable investing.

The other task entailed sense-checking Carbon’s figures for bond returns, equity returns, and the Consumer Price Index (CPI). Since these numbers constantly fluctuate, maintaining up-to-date data is crucial. Using resources like Bloomberg Indices and the FTSE All Cap Index gave useful overviews of the global market; this is important as Carbon values global diversification to reduce risk and improve portfolio efficiency for its clients.

This internship has allowed me to experience a much more personal side of finance that I really enjoy. While there is beauty in crunching numbers in Excel, being able to see the effects Carbon has on clients’ lives has been invaluable. People who work hard for their whole lives deserve to get the most out of their money. Carbon enables people to do this while reminding them that the money should be used to bring joy.

The warmth, teamwork, and genuine care within the Edinburgh office will leave a lasting impression on me. This internship has not only sharpened my technical understanding of finance but also reaffirmed the value of a client-first approach. I leave with skills, experiences, and connections that will shape my career path and a real appreciation for the people who make Carbon a standout place to work.