Welcome the Class of 2026

This week, we were delighted to welcome three new graduates to Shorts.

Leila Presho, Jaskaran Mehat and Ben Stones have joined the firm as part of our graduate intake for 2026, marking the beginning of an exciting new chapter in their careers. As they settle into life at Shorts, we'd like to take the opportunity to celebrate their arrival and formally welcome them to the team.

A significant first step

Starting a graduate role is a major milestone.

For many people, it's their first experience of professional life after university. Alongside the excitement of starting something new comes the uncertainty of joining a new organisation, meeting new colleagues and stepping into an unfamiliar environment. It's a moment that most of us remember well, which is why those first few weeks as so important.

The welcome starts before day one

At Shorts, our aim is to make the transition from university to professional life as smooth as possible.

Before our graduates walk through the door on their first day, we begin preparing for their arrival. We provide them with information about the firm, explain what to expect, introduce key contacts and share practical guidance to help them feel informed and confident ahead of joining.

Engaging with our new Graduates through a pre-joining coffee catch up and inviting them to join us at the annual summer social, is all part of helping our new starters arrive feeling prepared, rather than overwhelmed. After all, beginning a new role is challenging enough without having to navigate everything feeling alone.

Building confidence from the start

The first few weeks of any new role within Shorts are about more than learning systems and processes.

They're about getting to know our people, understanding the culture of our organisation and building the confidence to ask questions and learn from others.

One of the things previous graduates have consistently highlighted is the supportive nature of Shorts and the willingness of colleagues to share their knowledge and experience. The sense of community, mentoring and encouragement available across the business plays an important role in helping our graduates settle in and develop. 

Senior Audit Quality, Technical & Training Lead, Ian Robinson and
Learning and Development Manager, Lana Reid welcome this year's graduates
Front row L-R Leila Presho, Ben Stones and Jaz Mehat

Investing in future talent

Welcoming new graduates is always an exciting time for the firm.

Each intake brings fresh perspectives, new ideas and the opportunity to support talented individuals as they begin their professional journeys. We take great pride in seeing graduates develop over time, grow in confidence and build successful careers.

While Leila, Jaskaran and Ben are only just getting started, we look forward to seeing what they achieve in the years ahead. 

Looking ahead

For now, our focus is on helping the Class of 2026 settle into life at Shorts and supporting them as they begin this exciting next chapter.

However, their arrival is also a reminder that somewhere there are future graduates who will be considering their own next steps.

Applications for our 2027 Graduate Programme are expected to open in November, and we look forward to welcoming the next generation of talent when the time comes.

Could your face be included next time?

For now, though, we'd simply like to say:

Welcome to Shorts, Class of 2026. We wish you every success as your journey begins.