For Brandy, joining L&G as an intern was more than a first step into financial services. It was a chance to connect his interest in sustainability, long-term investing and measurable impact with work that supports clients and communities in practical ways.
That internship helped him build confidence, understand the industry from the inside and see where his skills could add value. It also played an important role in helping him return through the graduate programme.
Now a Distribution Graduate Analyst at L&G, Brandy reflects on what brought him back, how his role has developed and why internships can be such an important route into a longer-term career.
What led you to explore a career at L&G?
Brandy’s route into financial services wasn’t traditional. Originally from Ghana, his studies took him across Europe before completing an MSc in Transition, Innovation and Sustainability Environments at University College Dublin. His studies shaped how he thought about impact and the role finance can play.
“I kept coming back to one question: how do you turn impact from an idea into something measurable?” he says. That question led him to pensions and long-term investing, areas where finance directly affects everyday life. From how people retire to how communities grow, financial services have the potential to drive more inclusive and sustainable outcomes.
“What stood out was the long-term mindset and the scale of responsibility. It aligned with what I was looking for in terms of both impact and growth.”
Before applying, Brandy first came across L&G through an early careers skills workshop run by Inclusion in Finance. It gave him a clearer sense of the organisation’s culture, its work across the investment industry and its focus on widening access to careers in financial services.
What encouraged you to return after your internship?
Brandy joined L&G as a Distribution Intern, expecting to learn by observing. Instead, he quickly found himself contributing.
“I was trusted with meaningful work from the outset,” he explains.
One project involved reviewing ESG components of funds for a client, giving him first-hand insight into how sustainable investing works in practice.
“I also delivered a climate change presentation to the wider team. It helped me realise that my academic background could add value in a corporate setting.”
What made the biggest difference, though, was the culture.
“There was a strong sense of support, a genuine commitment to learning and consistent engagement from colleagues. That environment shaped what I value in a workplace, and it played a key role in my decision to return as part of the graduate programme.”
How has your role developed since becoming a graduate?
“One of the biggest changes has been moving from supporting tasks to taking ownership of outcomes,” Brandy says.
Graduate schemes at L&G are designed to go beyond observation. Instead of watching from the sidelines, interns and graduates are encouraged to contribute from the start, working on real projects that connect directly to clients, markets and long-term outcomes.
In his current role, he works on consultant questionnaires and proposals, helping translate complex investment content into clear, client-focused messaging, often to tight deadlines.
“I’ve supported work linked to major industry surveys, including one where L&G moved from silver to gold for Financial Wellness.”
Alongside this, he’s found opportunities to improve how the team works, using AI to solve practical challenges in the flow of day-to-day delivery.
“I noticed inefficiencies in the bid review process, including repeated feedback cycles and inconsistent application of style guidance, so I started building AI agents that could help improve consistency, reduce repetition and support better-quality outputs.”
So far, Brandy has built three in-house AI agents for Distribution, including tools that support RFP reviews, make it easier to find relevant bid management knowledge and help identify issues in complex survey responses earlier in the process.
The focus is not AI for its own sake, but finding practical ways to help teams move faster, improve quality and spend more time on higher-value, client-facing work.
What does your role involve day to day?
At its core, Brandy’s role is about communication and coordination across the business.
“Day to day, I support responses to requests for proposals (RFPs) and consultant surveys, working with teams across the organisation to make sure everything is accurate, consistent and clear,” he explains.
The work is highly collaborative, requiring input from across Investments, Product, Operations, Legal and Compliance.
“Knowing how to ask the right questions is essential,” he adds.
What support or opportunities have stood out?
Mentoring and wider experiences have played a big role in Brandy’s development.
“I’ve built a network of mentors through both structured programmes and informal conversations,” he says. “That’s helped shape how I think and approach my work.”
He’s also been actively involved in outreach and early careers activity, often supporting internship and graduate events through panels, hosting, insight days and mentoring conversations.
“Taking part in insight days and speaking to students has helped me develop my communication skills and reflect on my own journey.”
That includes supporting events with L&G’s charity partner Urban Synergy, which aim to inspire students from underrepresented backgrounds, as well as volunteering with Investment20/20 to share industry insights with sixth form students interested in investment management.
Outside his core role, Brandy has also contributed to AI literacy across the business as part of the Distribution AI Council, helping share practical guidance through newsletters and workshops. More recently, he was invited by the Future Talent team to speak about AI usage and best practice.
His work has also been recognised beyond L&G, with nominations for Trainee of the Year and Rising Star of the Year at the Professional Pensions Rising Star Awards 2026.
What advice would you give to someone starting out?
For Brandy, progression starts with taking initiative early, especially during an internship.
“Don’t wait until you feel fully ready,” he says. “Ask questions, take ownership of small responsibilities and build trust over time.”
For anyone hoping to move from an internship into a graduate role, that mindset matters. The internship is not only a chance to learn about the organisation, but to understand how you work, what motivates you and where you can make a useful contribution.
He also highlights the importance of communication.
“Being able to translate complex ideas into something clear is a really valuable skill.”
And finally, choosing the right environment matters.
“Look for an organisation where purpose shows up in the work, not just in what’s said.”
Building a career at L&G
Brandy’s journey shows what an internship can become when you stay curious, get involved and take ownership of the opportunities in front of you. It helped him understand the business, build confidence and turn early experience into a place on the graduate scheme.
For anyone starting out, an internship at L&G is a chance to get close to meaningful work, learn from people across the business and start shaping where your career could go.
Explore early careers opportunities to get started.
