Unpaid internships in the UK are a growing threat to social mobility and fair access to the professions. With internships overwhelmingly based in London, those who are unable to pay high rental costs and “intern” for free for long periods of time are losing out. Not only is this abuse unfair, but there is overwhelming evidence that suggests that unpaid internships are illegal- in breach of national minimum wage law. The UK’s Coalition government is well versed in issuing press releases referring to the problems of unpaid internships- but has been slow to act. In response, a growing movement of youth organisations and trades unions are starting to join together to help stand up for young people’s right to be paid.

Within the labour market today both employees and employers are increasingly coming to see the mutual benefits that come from internships. For employees internships provide valuable on-the-job vocational training and can provide an entry route into the profession. For employers internships represent an efficient and cost-effective way of identifying future talent with the sector. However where the opportunities are unpaid, barriers to this vital ladder onto the career ladder are constructed. Tens of thousands of young people simply can’t afford to work for free.

London is an expensive place to live. The Evening Standard recently found that the average rent in the city was poised to break the £1000 per month barrier. With creative industries, PR agencies, law firms and other are professional employers overwhelmingly based in the Capital, the hurdle of living costs is too much for many who do not live in London.

The cost of a ten week internship placement to individuals varies due to circumstance. Those who are able to stay rent-free will incur the lowest costs, typically around £1000 over the period for food, travel etc. Those who are forced to pay rent may end up spending over £4000 to complete an internship. This money is an upfront cost that is largely met by expensive bank loans, if the person in question has no parental support. If an intern is borrowing £4000, they will typically end up paying back much more. Many more will be refused loans as they cannot guarantee future income and will be unable to get work experience.

The reaction of successive governments to the growing problem has fallen short. In 2009 the then Labour government commissioned “Unleashing Aspirations”, a report on social mobility which focussed on the problems of unpaid internships. Despite the hype, no action was taken. When the new Coalition government came to power, Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg spoke out against unpaid internships, despite the fact that they were shown to be rife within the offices of his own party. While new government guidelines published claimed that “the National Minimum Wage is a minimum standard” for internships, the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills’s own portal for finding work experience has been exposed as being riddled with advertisements for unpaid work.  Despite announcement after announcement and press release after press release, condemning unpaid internships, The Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, Jeremy Hunt MP, says he is still “proud” of his record of asking young people to work for free. In June of this year David Cameron said he was “very relaxed” about unpaid internships. His government acts like it.

Interns groups are starting to organise themselves to stand up for the rights of young people exploited in internships, or priced out of them. Intern Aware is the national campaign against unpaid internships and is working with young people from across the country to help make the case for all interns to be paid at least the national minimum wage. Big organisations are starting to wake up to the challenge. Next month the NUS, TUC and Intern aware will launch a campaign targeting University career services to let people know about their rights at work. The law is on the side of the interns, not the employers.  In every case that has gone to employment tribunal so far, the court has found in favour of the intern. Victories for interns like Keri Hudson, who won back all her backdated pay from her employer will doubtless be repeated.

There is a long way to go before we can make sure that all young people can compete on an even footing for the opportunities that will allow them into the job market. Unpaid internships are still the norm in the media, creative industries, journalism and more. But by organising together in groups like Intern Aware there is a growing momentum behind campaigns to end the unfair practice for good.

Gus Baker,
Co-Director, Intern Aware

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