This programme is for Scottish school students who have recently left school, or are about to leave, and are ready to take their first step into the world of work while earning money and learning how the financial services industry really works.

You’ll join one of our teams on a 12 month fixed-term contract and get real responsibilities from day one, with your line manager, buddy and mentor all there to support you as you learn on the job. Alongside your daily work, you’ll follow a structured development programme, work towards a professional qualification and build the skills that will help you wherever you go next. After the 12 months, you’ll have real experience under your belt, a stronger CV and a much clearer sense of the exciting career paths out there. We’re also committed to supporting social mobility in Scotland, so this apprenticeship is designed to open doors for young people who might not have had a straightforward route into financial services, helping you start building your tomorrow with confidence.

Requirements

• No work experience or university degree required
• Curiosity
• Willingness to learn
• Positive attitude
• Interest in how businesses work
• Curiosity about a career in financial services
• Excitement about learning new things
• Readiness for a challenge where you can ask questions, take on advice and give things a try
• Enjoyment of working with others
• Clear communication skills
• Confidence in speaking to people and asking for help

Responsibilities

• Get real experience from day one
• Spend 12 months working full-time with one of our Edinburgh-based teams, getting involved in day‑to‑day work and taking on meaningful tasks that make a real contribution to what we deliver for clients.
• Explore how the financial services world works
• Learn how the financial services and investment industry operates, with the chance to experience areas like Finance, Operations, Risk & Compliance through your placement and development activities.
• Grow through structured learning and training
• Take part in a clear development programme that includes on‑the‑job learning, formal training sessions and support to work towards a relevant professional qualification.
• Start building your professional network
• Connect with colleagues across Aberdeen and meet other early career colleagues from across the industry, helping you grow your network from the very start of your career.
• Balance work, study and your wellbeing
• Make the most of your study leave, volunteer leave and annual leave allowance—helping you manage your work, learning and personal development throughout the 12‑month programme.

Benefits

• 12-month Fixed-Term Contract
• Earn money while you learn
• Structured development programme
• Work towards a professional qualification
• Build transferable skills
• Real work experience
• Stronger CV
• Clearer sense of career paths
• Study leave
• Volunteer leave
• Annual leave allowance

Application Process

• Closing date: Sunday 5th April 2026. Applications may close earlier if high volume is received.
• Assessment Day: Early June, accommodating the Scottish exam timetable.
• AI tools are permitted for application support, but the application must be your own work.

About Aberdeen plc

Aberdeen plc is one of Europe’s largest investment companies, and we are built on a long-standing culture of caring about the future and making a positive impact. Together we invest for a better future. We do it to make a difference to the world of our clients and customers, our employees, society, and our shareholders. Our business is structured around three distinct areas focused on our clients' changing needs: Aberdeen Investments, Aberdeen Adviser, and Interactive Investor.

We are proud to be a Disability Confident Committed employer. We are committed to fostering an inclusive culture where diverse perspectives guide our actions. We define diversity in its broadest sense – this includes but is not limited to our diversity of educational and professional backgrounds, experience, cognitive and neurodiversity, age, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, disability, religion or belief and ethnicity and geographical provenance. We support a culture that values meritocracy, fairness and transparency and welcomes enquiries from everyone.

Contact

If you need assistance or an adjustment due to a disability please let us know as part of your application and we will assist. If you have a disability and wish to apply for one of our UK roles under the Disability Confident Scheme, you can let us know by completing the relevant section in our candidate questionnaire so a member of our team can support you through the application process. If you need assistance with your application or require a reasonable adjustment for your interview, whether you are neurodivergent or have a physical, sensory, cognitive, mental, visible, or invisible disability, please tell us, and we will be happy to help.