Unpaid internships are affecting social mobility amongst Londoners.
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The Sutton Trust estimates that 40% of 70,000 internships undertaken annually are unpaid across the UK. Young workers need a minimum of £1,019 per month to live in London, meaning those from less-advantaged backgrounds are unable to compete.
The study estimates that an intern wanting to fulfill a six-month internship in London would need a budget of at least £6,114 for living costs.
The Trust is backing cross-party calls to ban unpaid internships that are over a month long.
Rebecca Montacute, author of the report, says ‘all internships should be paid at least the National Minimum Wage as currently it damages social mobility’.
She added that although companies should openly advertise internships, the recruitment process should be fair and positions awarded on merit.
The report suggests that all internships should be advertised, be awarded on merit, and meet the basic financial requirements if over one month long.
Florence Onwumere, a student services ambassador at the London Metropolitan University confirmed that many of their students can be put-off from certain job markets because of the need to complete open-ended, unpaid, internships, in order to secure paid positions.
She added that students from under-priveledged backgrounds struggle to complete their internships as they might not have a place to ‘stay for free’.
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HeadlineUnpaid internships and living costs ‘preventing’ social mobility in London
Short HeadlineLiving costs and unpaid internships 'preventing' social mobility
Standfirst
The Sutton Trust estimates that 40% of 70,000 internships undertaken annually are unpaid across the UK. Young workers need a minimum of £1,019 per month to live in London, meaning those from less-advantaged backgrounds are unable to compete.
The study estimates that an intern wanting to fulfill a six-month internship in London would need a budget of at least £6,114 for living costs.
The Trust is backing cross-party calls to ban unpaid internships that are over a month long.
Rebecca Montacute, author of the report, says ‘all internships should be paid at least the National Minimum Wage as currently it damages social mobility’.
She added that although companies should openly advertise internships, the recruitment process should be fair and positions awarded on merit.
The report suggests that all internships should be advertised, be awarded on merit, and meet the basic financial requirements if over one month long.
Florence Onwumere, a student services ambassador at the London Metropolitan University confirmed that many of their students can be put-off from certain job markets because of the need to complete open-ended, unpaid, internships, in order to secure paid positions.
She added that students from under-priveledged backgrounds struggle to complete their internships as they might not have a place to ‘stay for free’.
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