National/regional firms

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Beyond London, the most active cities are Manchester, Birmingham, Leeds, Bristol, Liverpool, Cardiff, Newcastle and Nottingham. National firms have offices in several cities (and perhaps also Scotland), whereas a ‘regional’ firm might limit itself to say, the North or the South West – perhaps with an additional office in London. A regional firm could have just one office or several. Clients are mostly UK public and private companies, local and public authorities, and possibly also international businesses with UK interests. As a rule of thumb, smaller firms are also likely to prioritise private client work.

Expect to spend your training contract in a single region, potentially visiting different offices. Salaries vary by location, with Birmingham, Manchester and Bristol faring relatively well (starting from around £21,000s to as high as £49,000) compared to, say, Wales or Kent (from under £20,000 to around £25,000. Regional trainees typically work more manageable hours than their City counterparts; however, there’s a strong emphasis on gaining practical experience and client exposure. Available seat options will depend on the firm’s business model, so do your research.

Use LCN's training contract search to identify which firms to apply to.