We have addressed some FAQs specific to internships here. Please also see our advice on advertising, which helps you navigate the recruitment process from start to finish. How to advertise your job Please read these in addition to our general Guide to Recruiting which helps you navigate the recruitment process from advertising to inducting your new team member. Guide to Recruiting our Students and Graduates The CIPD guide to Internships that Work is an excellent resource that provides detailed recommendations on best practice for internships. We recommend looking at this before planning your internship. CIPD guide to Internships that Work Do I need to pay my intern? Yes. Workers must receive at least the National Minimum Wage. To ensure a diverse range of students can apply to your role we recommend you pay at least the actual Living Wage as outlined by The Living Wage Foundation. National Minimum Wage Guidance The Living Wage Foundation Sutton Trust (2018), Unpaid, Unadvertised and Unfair Report Do interns need an employment contract? Yes. Don’t worry if this is your first time hiring – Business Gateway has an employee contract template that can be accessed on their website. Employee contract template Do interns get holidays? Yes, interns should be treated in the same way as your other employees and are entitled to the same holiday entitlement. There is a statutory requirement that you can calculate online, but you may decide to offer more and this should be outlined in their employment contract. Holiday entitlement guidance When can students work? It is helpful to know when students are able to work so you can plan your recruitment. Check our semester dates here. Hiring a summer intern: most Undergraduates will finish their exams by the end of May, and Postgraduate Taught (Masters) students will usually finish their dissertation by mid-August (course dependent) Hiring a part time intern: during semester time we recommend students work no more than 15 hours per week (or 9 hours on average across a year for PhD students). You are welcome to get in touch with the Careers Service with any other questions around internships. This article was published on 2024-05-14
