Welcoming our 2025 Big City Bright Future interns

In July we were delighted to welcome Zahraa Ahmed and Sabrina Garabagiu for a two-week internship as part of our support for the Big City Bright Future programme. Their arrival came at a particularly exciting time for us, as we had just announced the closing of our Fund VI and during their time here, we also moved into new offices in Smithson Tower.

Zahraa and Sabrina brought great energy and enthusiasm to learn throughout their time. They immersed themselves in learning about private equity, from live investment discussions and financial modelling to commercial research and strategic analysis. Below, they reflect on their experience in their own words.

Our Internship at GCP: A Look Inside Private Equity

From day one at GCP, we were welcomed into the team and quickly immersed in the world of private equity. Rather than just observing, we were encouraged to engage by asking questions, analysing data, and learning how real investment decisions are made.

We saw how private equity goes far beyond the numbers, in meetings like the weekly team meeting, the Monthly Operational Review (MOR), and the Valuation Committee. This led to us gaining a large insight into how GCP assesses business performance and long-term potential, looking not just at financial metrics but also at leadership, market trends, and future growth prospects.

‘’A highlight of my internship was learning how to evaluate the financial health and performance of a business. We were introduced to the three financial statements: profit and loss, balance sheets, and cash flow. Seeing how each of these feeds into the bigger picture.’’ Zahraa

With the support of the team, we learned to interpret financial statements (P&L, balance sheets, and cash flow) and explored key concepts such as EBITDA, valuation multiples, and working capital. We also worked on SWOT analyses and commercial research to understand business models and competitive positioning.

‘’ What made my time at GCP so rewarding was how much I was encouraged to learn, not just observe. I had the chance to ask questions, explore topics like fund structuring, carried interest, and due diligence, and get stuck into real commercial research. I gained a much clearer picture of what strong performance looks like in a business, how to think critically about valuation, and how firms like GCP build long-term partnerships with the companies they invest in.’’ Sabrina

One of the biggest takeaways was how much emphasis is placed on strategic thinking and judgement, understanding whether a company’s growth forecasts align with market trends, or whether a high margin might actually mask underinvestment in key areas.

‘’One of the key things I learnt is that making an investment decision goes far beyond the numbers. Understanding a business’ market position, leadership, customer base, and potential for long-term growth is just as important as analysing its financials.’’ Zahraa

Throughout it all, the culture at GCP stood out. Everyone was generous with their time and knowledge, making sure we felt part of the team. We left each day not just learning something new but gaining a clearer idea of the kind of work we enjoy and the environment we may want to work in.

‘’This internship has definitely solidified my interest in private equity. I’ve seen the full picture – from origination and value creation through to valuations and fund structuring – and it’s a space I can really see myself in further down the line. It’s challenging, strategic, and people-driven – all things I love.’’ Sabrina

Our two weeks at GCP has given us a full-circle view of private equity and helped us build skills we’ll carry forward into our studies and future careers. Thank you to the entire team for making us feel part of it all and giving us such a real, thorough and inspiring look into their business and the world of private equity.