What are my responsibilities?
As an employer, you should ensure that any internship opportunity conforms to legal requirements. It’s also good practice to provide a structured environment in which graduates will work, and to treat them with the same fairness and respect as you would other employees.
See the Business Link website for information on employees' rights, employment contracts, health and safety and more:
- Hours, rest breaks and the working week
- Information about the employment contract
- Importance of health and safety to your business
- Find out when employees’ rights begin
Paid and unpaid internships
The government is encouraging employers to pay a wage that reflects both the value of the intern's contribution and the level of training and support offered by the employer.
Employers should also make sure that any internship they offer complies with the law on minimum wages. If an intern is effectively performing as a ‘worker’, then in most cases they will be entitled to the national minimum wage.
However, in some limited circumstances, employers may wish to offer unpaid internships. Before you decide to offer an unpaid opportunity, make sure you have taken account of the guidance on minimum wages. It will then be for graduates to decide whether the benefits of taking up the internship outweigh the fact that it is unpaid.
- Read guidance on national minimum wage and internships
- Learn more about the national minimum wage rates on Business Link
- Paid holiday entitlements
If you offer an unpaid or expenses-only internship, you will have the same health and safety responsibilities to the intern as you have for any paid employees.
