LIFT internship guide for employers
Since 2021, LIFT has created over 100 internships across the tech, digital and creative industries, allowing employers to access diverse local talent. This guide explains how internships work, why they can be a great fit for your business, and how LIFT can support you.
Why Internships?
Internships are a great way to access fresh talent and build a more inclusive workforce. They provide a vital stepping stone for people with the skills and passion you need but who may lack paid experience. For employers, internships offer a flexible, short-term solution tailored to your business needs - without the long-term commitment of an apprenticeship.
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Internship or Apprenticeship?
Both have value, but internships are shorter (2–6 months vs. 1–3 years), quicker to set up, and don’t require formal training. They’re ideal when no relevant apprenticeship standard exists or when you want to “try before you buy.”
Of the 100+ interns placed by LIFT, over half stayed on with their host employer. For others, the experience opened doors to new opportunities.
What makes a quality Internship?
- Pay a fair wage: we strongly recommend a minimum of London Living Wage (currently £13.85/hr) to attract a wider, more diverse pool of candidates.
- Offer real experience: give your intern meaningful work, and include them in meetings, projects and day-to-day work.
- Length: we recommend a minimum of 10 weeks, and three months is often ideal. Placements can be longer – up to six months or even a year.
- Support: Assign a named supervisor or manager to support the intern, with regular check-ins and feedback.
- Be inclusive: Use accessible language in your job description. Internships shouldn’t normally require formal work experience or high-level qualifications.
How LIFT can help you:
- Support designing a role and writing the job description
- Recruitment – advertising, promoting, shortlisting and even help with interview panels
- In some instances, access to funding
- Wraparound pastoral support
- Reach out to find out more:
Contact us
FAQs
- Do we need a formal training plan? No, but a clear outline of tasks and learning outcomes is helpful.
- Can interns work remotely or part-time? Working in the office offers a better experience for interns than working remotely; hybrid can work well once they have settled into the role. Part-time hours are an option, and can make roles more accessible to people with caring commitments or other responsibilities.
- What are the legal requirements? Interns must be paid (unless part of a study programme). They are typically considered workers, and entitled to basic employment rights. More info here
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