Company Secretarial Graduate

At a glance: 

• Location – London, United Kingdom  
• Start Date – August 2025 
• Contract Type – 12 months Fixed Term Contract
• Working Arrangement – Hybrid 

Here’s a summary of the role:  

YouGov is offering an exciting 12-month Graduate Programme designed to give you invaluable hands-on experience in both legal and company secretarial roles, providing a solid foundation for your career in-house.

This unique rotational programme offers you the opportunity to experience two six-month placements across YouGov’s Company Secretariat and Legal & Data Team. You will gain exposure to key areas of business, from commercial contracts to corporate governance and build expertise through collaborative and impactful work.

During your time as a Company Secretarial you will join the growing CoSec team, where you will support YouGov Company Secretariat with a wide range of corporate activity and projects. The Company Secretariat (“CoSec”) at YouGov has four main areas of work: 

• YouGov PLC Board: we are responsible for supporting the Board of Directors with their meetings and decision-making;
• YouGov plc Corporate Calendar: we ensure YouGov plc meets all its regulatory responsibilities; we support the Annual Report and Accounts, the AGM and other corporate events in the year.
• Group entity management: we support all of the Group’s 65+ entities in Europe, APAC and the US with corporate actions, entity administration and record-keeping.
• Share Plans: we manage YouGov plc’s share incentive plans.

During your time as a Legal Assistant in the Legal & Data team, you will be working closely with one of our qualified lawyers to help us provide legal advice to our global business. The legal issues you will be supporting on could vary hugely from IP, Data, Commercial contracts, corporate law or employment. They could relate to any of our markets around the world and support colleagues of varying levels of seniority to understand the law and do the right thing. The tasks that you will be responsible for will be similar to those of a paralegal. These could include managing and organising contracts, updating and maintaining IP and other legal data, attending legal meetings and negotiations, supporting legal and regulatory processes (including data subject access requests) and also working closely with our Legal Operations team to enhance our systems, processes and records.

Here’s a breakdown of what you’ll do (not all of it, just the important stuff): 

Company Secretarial Placement 

You’ll join the Company Secretariat team, where you will be hands-on and primarily supporting the Assistant Company Secretary – Entity Management on key time-sensitive corporate actions and entity management projects.

Key Responsibilities:

• Engaging with different stakeholders across the business to obtain updates, manage deadlines and support with information gathering.

• Preparing information for and supporting the effective running of management committees.

• Assisting the Company Secretariat with key record-keeping projects.

• Adhere to and assist with the creation of departmental processes.

• Supporting the wider Company Secretariat on a range of CoSec activity to gain experience and knowledge. 

Legal Assistant Placement 

You’ll join the Legal & Data Team, supporting a variety of legal functions across multiple jurisdictions and business areas. You will have the opportunity to work on a broad range of legal issues, such as intellectual property, data privacy, commercial contracts, employment law, and corporate law.

 Key Responsibilities:

• Support our legal team with the negotiation and preparation of commercial contracts 
• Help manage our IP portfolio, arranging for new filings and preparing evidence for use in disputes 
• Support our Legal Operations team with developing and enhancing our legal processes, systems and policies.
• Conduct research into new areas of law, particularly in the IP, Data and Employment space.
• Support with the completion of major projects and transactions 

These are the essentials you’ll need to get an interview: 

• An interest in building a career in the law
• An interest in IP, data and new technologies
• A curiosity for the world of business and research
• A positive “can-do” attitude, with demonstrable experience of working as part of a team
• Ability to work under pressure to tight deadlines
• Understanding of corporate law and PLC governance principles  
• Excellent written communication skills and attention to detail  
• Self-starter, keen to show initiative and learn new skills 
• Experience of working on projects  

It would be great if you had these to, but we’ll support you if you don’t:

• Prior experience in an in-house paralegal role
• Law A-Level or undergraduate or post-graduate law degree
• Experience of working or interning in a PLC environment 
• Understanding of how a company secretariat function works 
• Experience of Sharepoint and Microsoft 365 

What to expect from the hiring process:

• Call with Talent Partner
• Assessment/Practical Interview
• Final Interview with the hiring team

Graduate Programme Overview:

Our Graduate Programme is designed to accelerate your career and provide a comprehensive foundation for success. Here's what you can expect:

• 12-Month Development Programme: A structured programme featuring role-specific training and professional skills development to equip you for success.
• Real-World Experience: Engage in meaningful tasks and projects, gaining hands-on experience from day one.
• Exposure to Senior Leadership: Benefit from direct interactions with our CEO, graduate sponsor, and functional leaders, offering invaluable insights and mentorship.
• Comprehensive Support System: Enjoy continuous guidance from the People Experience and Development team, as well as your dedicated line manager.
• Pathway to Promotion: Successful completion of the programme can lead to a permanent role and promotion, contingent on your performance.
• Graduate Alumni Network: Stay connected with your cohort and join a vibrant community of programme alumni to support your long-term growth.

Our programme offers an incredible opportunity to build your skills, expand your network, and shape your career in a supportive and dynamic environment.

What can we offer you:

We are driven by a set of shared values. We are fast, fearless, and innovative. We work diligently to get it right. We are guided by accuracy, ethics, and proven methodologies. We respect and trust each other, bringing these values into everything that we do.

• A cohesive, fun, inclusive and supportive team environment.
• From day one, you'll have the opportunity to engage with our fast-paced, innovative teams and make meaningful contributions. We encourage innovative thinking, and when combined with our collaborative culture, it creates an enjoyable and inspiring experience for all.
• A good work-life balance. Because we all work better when we are rested. Your wellbeing is as important to us as your career growth. Access curated resources for your physical, mental, financial, and social wellbeing at your convenience, anytime, anywhere.
• Exclusive LinkedIn Learning license offering unlimited access to a vast library of high-quality, expert-led training courses that are designed to elevate your skills and foster continuous growth.
• An extra day off to celebrate yourself – enjoy an additional day to relax and celebrate your birthday.

Ready to take the first step? Apply now and be part of our next generation of leaders!