We are not currently hiring. But we are always listening.

Learn by observing. Develop by understanding.

At WHIG, we believe that some of the best professional development comes from seeing how real organisations, leaders and engagements operate.

Our Shadowing Programme provides selected individuals with the opportunity to spend time alongside members of the WHIG team, observing our work, understanding our approach and gaining an insight into professional consulting, operations, governance and organisational practice. The programme is designed around observation, learning and professional development. Participants may observe meetings, discussions, networking activity, research, planning and other aspects of WHIG's professional environment, where appropriate and subject to client confidentiality and operational requirements.

How the programme works

The WHIG Shadowing Programme is offered for up to 30 days in total, with days being non-consecutive and arranged at WHIG's discretion.

There is no requirement for WHIG to provide a fixed number of days, particular activities or a continuous placement. The duration, timing and nature of shadowing will depend on what WHIG considers appropriate and beneficial to the individual's development, as well as our operational requirements, client commitments and confidentiality obligations.

A participant may therefore attend on selected days, pause their shadowing and return at a later date, or conclude the programme earlier where WHIG considers that the learning objectives have been sufficiently met. The programme is not designed as a route into employment and participation does not create an entitlement to employment, paid work, a consultancy engagement or any future position with WHIG.

Unpaid and non-employment status

The WHIG Shadowing Programme is unpaid. It is a genuine work-shadowing and learning arrangement, rather than an employment position, paid internship or arrangement under which the participant is contracted to provide services to WHIG.

Participants are there to observe and learn, rather than to undertake productive work on behalf of WHIG. They are not engaged to fill a role, provide services to clients, meet commercial targets or replace an employee or consultant.

Accordingly, participation in the programme does not, in itself, constitute an offer of employment or a contract of employment, nor is it intended to create a contract personally to perform work or services.

UK Government guidance recognises that work shadowing in which an individual is only observing, listening and learning does not constitute work for National Minimum Wage purposes. GOV.UK also makes clear, however, that employment status depends on the actual nature of the arrangement, rather than simply the terminology used.

For this reason, WHIG structures its Shadowing Programme around genuine observation and learning. Participants are not required to undertake work for WHIG as a condition of participation.

No promise of employment

Completion of the Shadowing Programme does not guarantee, imply or constitute an offer of employment or future paid work with WHIG. Any future opportunity with WHIG would be considered separately and, where applicable, would be subject to a separate recruitment process, offer and contractual arrangements.

Professional conduct and confidentiality

Although the programme is observational, participants are expected to conduct themselves professionally and to respect WHIG's confidentiality, information-security and client requirements.

Participants may be excluded from particular meetings, engagements, documents or discussions where WHIG considers that access would be inappropriate because of client confidentiality, commercially sensitive information, personal data or other professional obligations. WHIG may also end or suspend a participant's shadowing arrangement at any time where it considers this appropriate.

Expenses

The Shadowing Programme does not provide a salary, fee or other remuneration for participation.

Where WHIG expressly agrees in advance to reimburse genuine reasonable expenses incurred in connection with an approved shadowing activity, this will be treated as reimbursement of expenses rather than payment for work.

Important legal position

The programme is structured as genuine work shadowing and is intended to remain outside an employment or worker relationship. However, employment status under UK law is determined by the substance and reality of an arrangement, not simply by what an organisation calls it or what a participant agrees to.

The UK Government's employment-status guidance confirms that a person may generally be a "worker" where there is an arrangement to perform work or services personally in return for money or another benefit. It also specifically recognises genuine work shadowing, where no work is performed and the individual is only observing, as falling outside the National Minimum Wage requirements.

WHIG therefore does not use this programme to obtain unpaid productive work. If the nature of an individual's involvement were to change such that they were undertaking substantive work or providing services rather than simply observing and learning, WHIG would review the arrangement and take appropriate steps in accordance with applicable law. The Shadowing Programme is a learning and professional-development opportunity, not an employment vacancy.

Eligibility Requirements

The WHIG Shadowing Programme is intended for individuals who are serious about developing their understanding of professional consulting, organisational operations, governance and people. To be considered for the programme, applicants must meet the following requirements:

1. 1.

   Aged 18 or over

   Applicants must be 18 years of age or older at the commencement of their shadowing programme. This requirement reflects the professional nature of the environments in which WHIG operates, including exposure to commercial discussions, client environments and potentially confidential business information.

2. 2.

   Able to enter into an NDA

   Before commencing shadowing, participants must be willing and legally able to enter into a Non-Disclosure Agreement (NDA) with WHIG. Participants may, depending on the activities they observe, encounter confidential, commercially sensitive or otherwise restricted information relating to WHIG, its clients, partners or other organisations. The NDA is intended to protect that information and applies whether information is received verbally, visually, electronically, in writing or through observation.

3. 3.

   Able to enter into the WHIG Shadowing Agreement

   All successful applicants must agree to and sign WHIG's Shadowing Agreement before their first day of participation. The Shadowing Agreement sets out the nature and boundaries of the programme, including: the observational and developmental purpose of the programme; the maximum period of participation; the non-consecutive nature of shadowing days; confidentiality and information-handling requirements; professional conduct expectations; health, safety and security requirements; the distinction between shadowing and undertaking work for WHIG; arrangements concerning any expressly approved expenses; and the circumstances in which WHIG may suspend or conclude participation. Signing the agreement confirms that the participant understands the nature of the programme. It does not create an employment contract or guarantee employment, paid work or any future position with WHIG.

4. 4.

   Genuine interest in professional development

   We are looking for individuals who demonstrate a genuine interest in learning about professional environments and developing their understanding of: Operations | Governance | People | Strategy | Consulting | Organisational Development. Applicants do not necessarily need previous consulting experience or formal professional qualifications. We are primarily interested in attitude, curiosity, professionalism and a willingness to learn.

5. 5.

   Professional conduct

   Participants must be capable of conducting themselves appropriately in a professional environment. This includes respecting: confidentiality; client relationships; WHIG's reputation; professional boundaries; information-security requirements; meeting protocols; and the instructions of WHIG personnel. WHIG reserves the right to decline an application or discontinue participation where an individual's conduct, circumstances or suitability means that continued shadowing would not be appropriate.

6. 6.

   Availability

   The programme provides for up to 30 days of shadowing, but these days are not guaranteed and will not ordinarily be consecutive. Attendance is arranged according to what WHIG considers appropriate and beneficial to the participant's development, alongside WHIG's operational requirements, client commitments and confidentiality obligations. Participation may therefore involve a small number of days, periods of non-attendance between shadowing days, or an earlier conclusion to the programme.

7. 7.

   Understanding the nature of the programme

   Applicants must understand that the WHIG Shadowing Programme is not an unpaid job, internship or route into employment. The programme is structured around observing, listening, learning and asking questions. Participants are not recruited to perform productive work for WHIG or to fill an operational role. This distinction is important. GOV.UK guidance specifically recognises genuine work shadowing, where an individual is only observing and is not performing work, as outside the National Minimum Wage legislation. It also makes clear that employment status depends on the reality of the arrangement rather than simply what an organisation calls it. Accordingly, applicants should only apply where they are comfortable with the programme being primarily observational and developmental, rather than expecting paid work or a conventional work placement.

Selection

Meeting the eligibility requirements does not guarantee acceptance. WHIG may select participants based on suitability, the individual's stated development objectives, available capacity, the relevance of upcoming activities and whether WHIG considers that participation would provide a meaningful learning opportunity. WHIG may also limit the number of participants accepted at any given time. The objective is simple: to provide meaningful exposure to professional practice where we believe the experience will genuinely benefit the individual.