Graduate opportunities
The application process for our 2010 trainee consultant programme is now closed. Check back later in the year for details of our 2011 intake.
The communication business
PR, public affairs, employee engagement and the rest of the ever-evolving communication disciplines are at the heart of the UK and global economies more than ever before. Businesses and organisations are increasingly looking to consultancies that can draw on expertise across these areas and make a real difference, whether it is through the management of their reputation or changing the behaviours and opinions of those who matter to them.
As a result, the communication business offers opportunities that are second-to-none for graduates who are passionate about current affairs and the media, and are looking for a career where they can be genuinely creative and develop their writing and communication skills.
So is it for you?
- Do you have strong writing and excellent communication skills?
- Do you have an analytical mind?
- Can you come up with creative and exciting ideas?
- Are you keen to learn more about how social media is changing the way we communicate forever?
If the answer to the above questions is ‘yes’, then this could be the career for you.
Whether you are dealing with breaking news stories, consumer campaigns, business to business communications, corporate reputation or government relations, it is a stimulating, rewarding environment.
Why Fishburn Hedges?
Fishburn Hedges is a friendly, successful communications consultancy with a broad client base. Clients are our focus, first, last and always; it’s the work that gets us out of bed in the morning. Our work covers the full range of communications including media relations, public affairs, stakeholder engagement and employee engagement.
We’re a big agency with a light touch. There are more than 130 of us based in London, but we also have an international outlook, with links to like-minded consultancies in major financial cities around the world.
We have always taken a strategic approach in the development of PR programmes and believe in offering advice that incorporates good creative ideas with pragmatic implementation and delivery of results.
Unlike many consultancies, we do not operate a divisional structure, which means we deliver the best answers for our clients by bringing together experts from across disciplines and sectors in an unusual way. Trainees are encouraged to work on a wide range of clients and very often with teams that combine a mix of media relations, public affairs and employee engagement expertise.
Our trainees
At Fishburn Hedges we hire bright, talented people.
All trainees follow an 18-month programme that offers an excellent foundation for progression within the agency at the end of the programme. Trainees provide account-handling support on a wide range of clients, experiencing different skills, ideas, approaches and markets along the way. Your time will be split between media and/or stakeholder relations and training, research and account administration. For those who demonstrate a keen interest and aptitude, there is the opportunity to work on public affairs and financial PR accounts.
Clients are likely to include major corporations, financial services organisations, professional services firms, trade associations, public sector organisations, government departments and voluntary sector bodies. We want you to live and breathe your clients’ industries, sectors and issues.
The structured programme encompasses the theory and creative application of media relations, government relations, corporate communications and financial communications, using a mixture of in-house expertise, external courses, site visits and hands-on experience.
Our trainee legacy
Forty six trainees have been accepted on to our trainee programme since its inception 12 years ago. Half of them are still with us today, and one is now managing partner of our sister agency, 77PR, and another is our Head of Digital. Our trainee retention rate is one of the highest in the industry.
Your personal development
Challenging, motivating and rewarding bright people sit at the heart of the way we do business. Every trainee has a Personal Manager (PM) who acts as your mentor and champion. The PM’s main responsibility is to monitor and provide feedback on the development of your core PR skills, career progression and general well-being.
What are we looking for in our trainees?
We are looking for bright graduates/ post-graduates with excellent written and oral communication skills. A keen interest in business, the media (particularly digital) and politics is important, and some relevant work experience is useful. A good academic degree is essential, as is a thirst for knowledge. You should be intelligent, confident and a good team player.
Package
We offer a competitive salary plus a benefits package which is recognised as amongst the best in the industry.
Applications
The application process for our 2010 intake is now closed. If you are interested in becoming a future trainee consultant, please email your details to us at the address below and we will let you know when the application process for our 2011 programme is open.