Off the Bench: James's Carbon Internship

Coming into this internship, my nerves were running high, comparable to how I felt before Scotland's opening game at the World Cup.

But just as McGinn put those nerves to rest on the pitch, the entire team at Carbon did the same on my very first day. From the moment I walked through the door, I was made to feel genuinely welcome.

My first day involved being shown around the office by Essi, meeting my buddy Fraser, and getting my first real introduction to Carbon's approach to financial planning. What immediately stood out about Carbon's approach to planning is that they're not afraid to tell you to get out there, enjoy your life, and spend the money you have, rather than simply preaching the same old "save, save, save" mantra.

The rhythm of day-to-day life at Carbon quickly became something I looked forward to. The office has a really warm atmosphere; it’s the kind of place where you don't feel like you're just passing through. People would stop for a chat, check in on how I was getting on, and always make time to explain things properly rather than just pointing me in the right direction and hoping for the best.

There were many highlights from my first week, but the planner training day was a particular standout, and a real privilege to have been invited along. The morning session with Dimensional was genuinely fascinating, and it was satisfying to draw connections between concepts I'd been studying at university and the way they play out in practice. The case study presented in the afternoon was equally impressive and gave me a clear sense of just how far the Carbon team is willing to go for their clients, something I've seen demonstrated a lot throughout my time here.

The second major highlight of my first week was, without question, the Carbon birthday party. A trip to Go Ape gave me the chance to meet the wider team and get to know everyone in a more relaxed setting outside the office. The rest of the day was an absolute blast, and any lingering nerves I had about the weeks ahead were well and truly gone by the end of it.

After such an action-packed first week, I spent the majority of my remaining time working on a project set by John, a deep dive into private markets, exploring their relevance to clients and examining the likely impact of recent industry developments on pensions. For any future interns reading this who are unsure what to write their dissertation on, I'd recommend throwing yourself into projects like this. I came out the other side with a wealth of new ideas and a real passion for the subject.

Beyond the research, I spent a great deal of time meeting different members of the team and sitting in on broader meetings that gave me a strong sense of how Carbon operates from the inside. The fact that so many people took time out of their busy days to chat with me meant a great deal.

Coming away from my time at Carbon I feel that I have learnt a lot more about financial planning and developed lots of new skills. From learning about the specifics behind cashflow modelling to how not to traverse certain obstacles at Go Ape, every day really was packed with new and exciting things to take in. If this internship has taught me anything, it's that with the right team around you, great things are possible. Scotland fans have believed that for years, maybe one day we'll be proven right.