What is an Internship?

A question I am often asked by graduates and line managers is about the rights of an “Intern”.  To clarify, Interns usually shadow someone to learn the role, maybe undertake some basic and simple tasks alongside the person they are job shadowing. The duration of the Internship can be anything from a couple of weeks to 3 months.  In principle they have very few employment rights as they are not classed as an employee. Instead the work is unpaid as it is classed as work experience. The individual get's a taste of the industry they wish to work in and some real life work experience they can add to their skills set.  It is usually voluntary.

However, I have come across situations when a business has inadvertently created an employment status for the Intern who then begins to accrue employment rights. This has happened when the Intern is working on their own and expected to perform certain tasks without supervision and they are offered paid work at the end of the Internship. If an individual accrues employment rights they are likely to be entitled to minimum wage, holidays and sick pay.

So it would be wise when considering an Intern to have some guidelines in place and ensure the line manager who will be responsible for the Intern is aware of these guidelines.

Types of Internships

Internship opportunities span across various sectors, catering to diverse interests and career aspirations. Some common types of internships include:

Paid Internships

Paid internships compensate participants for their time and effort, offering monetary gain in addition to experiential learning opportunities.

Unpaid Internships

Unpaid internships, though lacking monetary compensation, offer valuable learning experiences and skill development opportunities. Participants may receive academic credit or other forms of non-monetary benefits, such as mentorship, networking opportunities, and boosting their CV.

Summer Internships

Summer internships, typically conducted during the holiday breaks, offer students the chance to immerse themselves in full-time work experiences over a shorter duration. These short but intensive programs provide concentrated learning opportunities and allow individuals to explore career paths during their time with you.

Contact our HR Advisors for more Information about Internships