Alex Doherty – Compliance Consultant‍

We’re proud to celebrate one of the key milestones of our trainee programme, a fully paid, four‑week sabbatical awarded to every trainee upon graduating after three years. It’s our way of recognising their hard work, supporting wellbeing, and encouraging fresh perspective. And if that sounds like the kind of opportunity you’re looking for, we’re still welcoming applications from school leavers to career changers to join our 2026 trainee cohort.

In February, I spent my sabbatical travelling in Thailand and Hong Kong, visiting Bangkok (10–14 February) and Hong Kong (14–23 February). The trip was a great chance to switch off, explore somewhere completely different, and experience new cultures.

While in Bangkok, I visited places such as Seacon Square and the nearby night market, as well as the Suan Luang Rama IX Park (Royal Gardens). A lot of my time there was spent trying different street food and drinks, and just soaking up the atmosphere of the city, which was very relaxed and enjoyable.

In Hong Kong, I made a point of exploring as many areas as possible across the wider region, getting a feel for the different districts and what each had to offer. Highlights included going up to Victoria Peak for views over Central, taking the Star Ferry across to Tsim Sha Tsui, and watching the Lunar New Year celebrations parade and fireworks. I also visited many of the different markets in the area including the many flower markets and ladies market in Mong Kok .

Another big part of my time in Hong Kong was experiencing all the different cuisines. These ranged from, street food, hot pot, noodle restaurants, Yum Cha (dim sum/dumplings) and outdoor BBQs. It was a great way to experience the local culture and explore the many areas of Hong Kong.

I also made an effort to interact with locals as much as possible, whether that was speaking to vendors, restaurant staff or people in markets. Alongside that, I picked up and used some basic phrases in Thai and Cantonese, this made the trip more enjoyable and immersive.

Find out more about our trainee programme here and get in touch if you’d like further information or to apply!