Tell us about the design, structure and implementation of the programme, including how you interact with the business to maintain an excellent experience.
Summer Vacation Scheme
Our Summer Vacation Scheme is the only way to be considered for a Training Contract, therefore the firm is incredibly invested in this scheme.
Each vacation schemer is provided with a supervisor and trainee buddy for their two seats who are fully trained on how to connect, advocate, champion and communicate. As connectors, they help build connections with others to develop interests. They advocate the firm and how we support trainees. They champion our inclusion strands and the development of talent and effectively communicate.
Responsible Business
We run a Responsible Business workshop which speaks to each strand of responsible business – pro bono, inclusion, sustainability.
Every practice area hosts a 'focus on' session which allows the students to hear directly what each team does and the trainee role within the team. We receive feedback every year that this opens the students' eyes to different opportunities which during the training contract will offer them.
A key skill for trainees is to balance competing demands – so our schedule is busy but has gaps to allow the vacation schemer to pick up work from their team. We consider this skill, along with ensuring a match in values, interacting with others and the work quality, to decide who will receive training contract offers.
Success
The schemes success and engagement of the business is through lots of pre-planning. We keep the business updated with the offers from assessment centres, meaning those involved know the difference they have made. The excitement of the vacation scheme is felt through the firm, especially in 2022 as this was the first year back in person since 2019, and the engagement was high.
There was a good ratio of Taylor Wessing representatives versus prospective applicants so it wasn't a struggle to find the opportunity to speak to someone from the firm
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