Over 70% of PR Internships are unpaid reveals joint PRCA/Intern Aware study

London, 21 June – The PRCA has called for employers to avoid the “easy option”, following a study that revealed that the majority of PR interns receive either no pay or just expenses.

The survey of over 160 young PR professionals, commissioned by the PRCA and Intern Aware, showed that over 70% of internships are paid less than the national minimum wage or nothing at all.

The results highlight the difficulty young graduates have entering the industry: 76% of internships last over a month, and more than half of respondents (53%) have needed to take more than one internship.

This is also contributing to a lack of diversity in the industry. If you are an intern in the public relations industry you are overwhelmingly likely to be female (75%), white British (75%), and within commutable distance of London.  61% of internships take place in London, with the next highest region being the south east with 8%.

Compared to last year’s PR Week/PRCA Census, the ethnicity of respondents is more diverse, but more London-centric and there is a greater gender imbalance.

Even though most interns could not afford an internship without financial/parental assistance (75%), and that the most common answer for not taking an internship was that they are unaffordable (32%), most PR professionals recognise the value of internships as a means for entering the industry. Over half (52%) of respondents said that internships dramatically increase employability prospects, rating them 5 out of 5 for value.

This is reflected by the number of respondents still in the industry (80%) despite most internships not leading to full time employment in the same organisation (77%).

The PR Internships Survey Results

Francis Ingham, PRCA Chief Executive, said: “Internships are not just a vital route into PR for young graduates, but a vital resource for employers as well. We need to avoid the easy option and accept that interns deserve to be paid for the service they provide.

“Our campaign has shown that there are plenty of good internships going, but as an industry we are still not doing enough to attract the best young graduates out there.”

Ben Lyons, Intern Aware Co-Director (who works at Fishburn Hedges), commented: “This survey provides proof that PR has an unpaid internships problem. Interning is becoming essential for graduates looking to get a job in PR and where these positions are unpaid, graduates who can’t afford to work for free are priced out. This means the industry will be losing out on many talented and hardworking young people.

“Moreover, companies who don’t pay face a legal risk after the recent announcement that HM Revenue and Customs will be enforcing the minimum wage for interns.”

Infographic: The survey in numbers

 

- ENDS -

Notes to editors

For more information please contact tom.hawkins@prca.org.uk on 020 7233 6026


About the PRCA

Who we are: Founded in 1969, the PRCA is the professional body that represents UK PR consultancies, in-house communications teams, PR freelancers and individuals. The PRCA promotes all aspects of public relations and internal communications work, helping teams and individuals maximise the value they deliver to clients and organisations.

What we do: The Association exists to raise standards in PR and communications, providing members with industry data, facilitating the sharing of communications best practice and creating networking opportunities.

How we do it and make a difference: All PRCA members are bound by a professional charter and codes of conduct, and benefit from exceptional training. The Association also works for the greater benefit of the industry, sharing best practice and lobbying on the industry's behalf e.g. fighting the NLA's digital licence.

Who we represent: The PRCA represents many of the major consultancies in the UK, and currently has more than 250 agency members from around the world, including the majority of the top 100 UK consultancies. We also represent over 70 in-house communications teams from multinationals, UK charities and leading UK public sector organisations.

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