Trading

How to get into trading in London?

Alex Walia

October 27, 2025

2 Min Read

Getting into trading in London — one of the world’s top financial hubs — depends on what kind of trading you’re interested in. “Trading” can mean several things:

• Financial trading (stocks, forex, commodities, crypto, etc.)
• Proprietary (prop) trading
• Investment banking or sales & trading
• Retail/independent trading

Here’s a complete guide broken down by path 👇

🏦 1. Professional Trading (Banks, Hedge Funds, Investment Firms)

🎓 Education

Most professional traders in London have at least a bachelor’s degree in:

• Finance, Economics, Mathematics, Statistics, or Engineering
• Top universities (LSE, Imperial, UCL, Warwick, Oxford, Cambridge) are common, but not required

💼 Entry Routes

• Graduate programs at major banks (e.g. JP Morgan, Barclays, Citi, HSBC, Morgan Stanley)
• Internships during university — these often lead to full-time offers
• Junior analyst roles at trading firms or hedge funds

🧠 Skills Needed

• Financial modeling & Excel
• Strong math and analytical ability
• Market understanding (macro, equities, FX, derivatives)
• Coding (Python, R, or SQL) is a big plus

📃 Certifications (optional but helpful)

• CFA (Chartered Financial Analyst)
• FRM (Financial Risk Manager)
• CFTe (Technical Analyst)

💰 2. Proprietary (Prop) Trading Firms

These firms trade the company’s money, not clients’ — and are great for beginners with strong math or game-theory skills.

🔑 How to Get In

• Apply directly to firms such as Jane Street, Optiver, IMC, DRW, Maven, OSTC, or Marex.
• Many provide paid training and teach you risk management and market strategies.
• Some firms require tests on math, logic, and trading simulations.

🧩 What They Look For

• Strong numeracy
• Fast decision-making
• Calm under pressure
• Interest in markets and statistics

💻 3. Retail / Independent Trading

If you want to trade your own money, you can start independently.

🪜 Steps to Start

1. Learn the basics: Market types, risk, technical & fundamental analysis.
2. Choose a broker: Reputable UK brokers include IG, eToro, Interactive Brokers, and Saxo Bank.
3. Start with a demo account: Practice trading without risking real money.
4. Develop a strategy: Focus on one market (e.g., forex or stocks).
5. Start small: Risk only 1–2% of your capital per trade.

📚 Good Learning Resources

• Books: “Trading for a Living” by Alexander Elder, “Market Wizards” by Jack Schwager
• Courses: London Academy of Trading, Coursera finance & trading courses
• YouTube channels: TraderNick, Rayner Teo, The Trading Channel

🌍 4. Visa & Work Requirements (for non-UK citizens)

If you’re not a UK citizen:

• You’ll need a Skilled Worker Visa if employed by a trading firm or bank
• Prop firms sometimes sponsor visas for top candidates
• For self-employed traders, you can use an Innovator Founder Visa if you build a trading-related business

⚙️ 5. Networking & Community

• Attend finance meetups and trading conferences (e.g., London Trader Show, Finance Magnates London Summit)
• Join LinkedIn trading groups
• Engage on r/UKInvesting or r/Forex communities