text: Creative industry told to be fairer to interns :: Freelance UK
  Creative industry told to be fairer to interns
  In a campaign to promote best practice across creative workplaces, industry group Creative Skillset is calling for more employers to adopt fair approaches to the way they recruit and pay interns.
  The campaign calls on employers to improve access and diversity in the creative workforce and advocate best-practice by adopting the group's updated Guidelines for Employers Offering Work Placement Schemes.
  Developed in consultation with employers, trade associations and unions, the guidelines were launched earlier this month at an event keynoted by Vince Cable MP, joint chair of the Creative Industries Council.
  He 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."
  Alex Hope, Creative Skillset Board member, who introduced the updated guidelines, added: "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 the guidelines, Creative Skillset says it will be offering practical support to employers through a new trainee finder service, preparatory training for interns and an internship vacancy matching service. The group has vowed to report back on the initial stages of the campaign in November.