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Welcome news this week that the Department for Business Innovation and Skills is making headway into ensuring that interns and work experience people are paid (at the least) national minimum wage.
Last week PwC announced its latest crop of graduate recruits last week – its largest intake ever (carrying the positive message that ‘we, PwC, consultancy powerhouse are doing well in face of economic doom and gloom. We rock. Etcetera’. It’s obviously still a tough job market out there – the company saw an increase in applications of an astonishing 449% to 2009, and 192% to last year. That indicates a lot of unemployed grads out there.
But what interested me the most was that 18% were interns, and that the firm offers 95% of its interns full time training roles. This is obviously great for the interns but it’d be interesting to know if these internships are paid (even if national minimum wage). If unpaid, it excludes a huge strata of potential candidates who just can’t afford to work for free. If, paid, then well done them!
On to yet more positive news from the big consultancies – today KPMG has pledged to recruit more state school or state college leavers from to its six-year degree scheme. This involves paying tuition fees and a guaranteed starting salary. Great recognition from a leading UK (and global) company that there is talent out there worth harnessing that comes from non-private schools and that don’t have freely available funds to go on to higher education or work for free to get work experience.
All to be applauded (or maybe I’m just having a glass half-full kind of day).
