I2020 Manchester

Business Support Trainee Programme (Manchester)

As a trainee on the Vanguard Investment20/20 programme you will be introduced to the investment management industry, gain industry knowledge, experience and develop relationships enabling you to progress your career. You will have opportunities to meet and network with over 300 trainees across the industry and participate in socials and insight events. 

About Vanguard
Vanguard is an investment company unlike any other. It was founded in the US in 1975 on a simple but revolutionary idea: that an investment company should manage its funds solely in the interests of its clients.  We’re a mutual fund, which means the people that invest their money with us are also our owners. That makes our mission simple; to create value for our investors. We stand for low-cost, uncomplicated investing and we’re proud to help millions of people by giving them the best chance for investment success.

Vanguard and Investment20/20
We have a strong partnership with Investment20/20; many teams across our business have benefitted from the skills and unique perspectives of talented young people who joined us through this programme. To date, we’ve welcomed 30 trainees and many of them have gone on to take permanent roles with us. 

As a trainee on the Investment20/20 programme you will be introduced to the investment management industry, gain industry knowledge, experience and develop relationships enabling you to progress your career. You will have opportunities to meet and network with over 200 trainees across the industry and participate in socials and insight events. 

In 2026 we will continue our partnership by offering 3, 12-month trainee roles in our Manchester office.

 

The opportunity

You may work in one of non-front office areas (please note, there is no opportunity to join front-office operations through this experience). No matter which team you join, you will be given meaningful work that will make a real contribution to our business. Through the recruitment process you will meet with our Talent Acquisition specialists, who will help you to understand the options and match you up with a team who can offer meaningful work to advance your career at Vanguard, or elsewhere.

Our opportunities in 2026 will start in late September, and we are inviting applications from non-graduate school leavers. You don’t need experience, just a sharp mind, curiosity, and a great attitude.

You will be paid the equivalent of £28,000 per year plus expenses to help you with initial costs (like buying new work clothes or your travel expenses). Once you finish the traineeship, if you want to stay on and you have made a good impression, the HR team will help you to apply for permanent roles.

Qualifications for the job

We are looking for school/college leavers who are keen to learn and start their careers in financial services. You will be a brilliant fit for this opportunity if you are bright, hardworking, and can show us how you are curious and willing to learn about investing. We look for people who care - about doing great work for our investors, and about caring for each other - people who are inclusive, have a high level of integrity and are naturally tenacious. If that sounds like you, we’d love to hear from you.

How to apply

Note: you are applying for the Programme, the Talent Acquisition team will match successful candidates to the team that best suits their skills.

Please apply online by submitting a CV as a named PDF document.

Application Process

• After submitting your CV, you will be invited to complete a short online assessment called ‘Arctic Shores’.
• If you score highly in your assessment, you will be contacted by a member of our Talent Acquisition team who will ask you a few questions to add to your application.
• If selected, you will then complete an Assessment Day that will take place at our offices where you will interview with potential managers.
• Successful candidates will then be offered.

Closing Date: 27th July 2026  -

Start Date: September 2026

**Please note we recruit on a rolling basis and roles may close before the stated date, you are advised to apply early.

How We Work

Vanguard has a hybrid working model, which means most teams work Tuesday-Thursday in the office and Monday and Friday from home. For some jobs we may need you to be in the office Monday-Friday. We will discuss the working pattern with you during the interview process.

Inclusion Statement

Vanguard’s continued commitment to diversity and inclusion is firmly rooted in our culture. Every decision we make to best serve our clients, crew (internally employees are referred to as crew), and communities is guided by one simple statement: “Do the right thing.”

We believe that a critical aspect of doing the right thing requires building diverse, inclusive, and highly effective teams of individuals who are as unique as the clients they serve. We empower our crew to contribute their distinct strengths to achieving Vanguard’s core purpose through our values.

When all crew members feel valued and included, our ability to collaborate and innovate is amplified, and we are united in delivering on Vanguard's core purpose: to take a stand for all investors, to treat them fairly, and to give them the best chance for investment success.

Our commitment to equal employment opportunity

Vanguard is an equal opportunity employer. Vanguard is committed to providing all crew members a working environment that is free from discrimination, prejudice and bias. Through this Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) Policy, Vanguard reaffirms its commitment to equal employment opportunity for all applicants and crew members without regard to race, colour, national origin or ancestry, religion, gender, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, disability, marital status, veteran or military status. In addition, Vanguard prohibits discrimination based on genetic information, as well as any other protected characteristic.

We will make reasonable accommodations if you need assistance completing this application or to otherwise participate in the application process. Please inform careers@vanguard.com if you need any help.

How We Work

Vanguard has implemented a hybrid working model for the majority of our crew members, designed to capture the benefits of enhanced flexibility while enabling in-person learning, collaboration, and connection. We believe our mission-driven and highly collaborative culture is a critical enabler to support long-term client outcomes and enrich the employee experience.