Campaign Calls For Fairer Internships

Creative Skillset says more employers must adopt fair approaches to the way they recruit and pay interns.
A new campaign is calling on employers to "improve access and diversity in the creative workforce and advocate best practice by adopting Creative Skillset's updated Guidelines for Employers Offering Work Placement Schemes."
Developed with employers, trade associations and unions, the guidelines were launched last week at the Opening Doors to the Creative Industries event.
The evening, hosted by Mark Benson, Global MD of VFX house MPC focused on promoting best practice for internships.
The Creative Industries Council Skills Group found that a lack of diversity risks the creative sector missing out on talented individuals with the potential to drive growth.
Vince Cable, Secretary of State and Joint Chair of the Creative Industries Council, who spoke at the Opening Doors into the Creative Industries event, said: "Internships and work experience can be a valuable way of helping people get into work and realise their ambitions. No one should be prevented from fulfilling their potential just because their personal circumstances mean they can't get a foot on the ladder. That is why I'm happy to welcome Creative Skillset's campaign today and the clear guidelines they've produced.
"The law on the National Minimum Wage is clear and interns need to be paid in a fair way. Anyone who feels they are being exploited should contact the Pay and Work Rights Helpline on 0800 917 2368 who will actively investigate every complaint."
Alex Hope, Creative Skillset Board member and MD of Double Negative, said: "The UK's Creative Industries rely on the skills and talent of our people to keep us globally competitive, and our people's skills and talent are, in turn, defined by the quality of the education and training they receive. Creative employers have always offered the opportunity to learn on the job, but the standard of work placements is too varied. In adopting best practices businesses will be able to reach out to talent from all backgrounds so they flourish and grow.
"In addition to these guidelines Creative Skillset will be offering practical support to employers through a new trainee finder service, preparatory training for interns and an internship vacancy matching service."
Creative Skillset will be promoting the guidelines through the Creative Industries Council, employers, trade associations and unions.
www.creativeskillset.org
(IT/JP)