Have followed up with Internaware. Tried to send you a copy via tanya@graduatefog but it didn’t work. Can I email you directly?

All the best
Alan Sealy

Appreciate you coming back so quickly and positively. Will follow up with Internaware. Will keep you posted on progress. By the way I had a relation who went to Caterham School with Dimitri de Grunwald – not Tolly – I think . Relation?

Kind regards

Alan Sealy

While I’m really interested in the political aspect of things, I need to keep Graduate Fog focussed on exposing and discussing the problems that graduates are facing. I’m afraid since I don’t get paid for my time, I have limited resources to dedicate to actually fixing all these problems – to be honest I’m hoping others will pick up these issues and run with them, as I’m only one person (working for free – oh the irony!) and as much as I’d love to, I just can’t do it all!

Luckily, in this case, Intern Aware have picked up the issue (in fact, they existed long before Graduate Fog) and they do a really good job of campaigning for interns so do get in touch with them. The founders are called Gus and Ben.

PS Old codgers are more than welcome on Graduate Fog – especially when they support the rights of young workers…! Thanks for taking the time to comment.

I am a bit of an old codger so certainly would not qualify as young and graduate but I started reading your web-site because I have been involved in researching and writing about the “enforcement” of the Minimimum Wage. I have a lot of sympathy with your position and applaud your decision to withdraw from the Alliance. From my long experience of business it appears that many employers are happy to take advantage of vulnerable workers and pay the absolute minimum they can get away with. Internships must be the holy grail – you pay them nothing. My advice would be to take a very cynical view of employers – and particularly PR agencies who are paid to spin.

I have an idea. Why don’t you organise a meeting inside the House of Commons in one of the Committee Rooms to discuss the role of internships and circulate it within the House in order to get as many Parliamentary interns as possible to turn up. You could also invite the Press along and see who turns up. You probably already know how to set up a meeting but if you want any help or advice I would be happy to help. Cameron is all for transparency in Parliament – lets put it to the test.

It may be a total failure – in which case we could speculate that the interns do not want to jeopardise their position. Alternatively, you might get some. You should learn something from the exercise. I don’t think you have anything to lose.

What do the interns do in the House of Commons. If they are doing a proper job they should get paid. If they are there to get trained I thought MP’s were very busy?
All the best

Alan Sealy

Just to say thanks for responding as I didn’t want to come across as a hit and run poster.

I take on board your points, will continue to read and continue to debate/praise/criticise/whatever.

But then I’m sure you wouldn’t want it any other way…

At present I am an intern, working for free (travel and expenses paid) through Inspiring Interns. Inspiring Interns waived my company’s fees for taking me on, by swapping me in return for my company’s services. It just makes you feel like a piece of meat.
I am happy at the company, but it is made clear that you are an intern, and that big decisions must always be passed on to someone else. I say big decisions. Maybe mediocre choices.
But of course it will boost my CV. In fact it has done. On the back of this internship, I have a paid summer placement with a top top company.

So given that working for free will give me such a boost in the long term, isn’t it just worth it to grin and bear it for a short time?

I would say yes, if it were not for the fact that working for free is only possible if you’re not desperate for money. Some people’s parents just can’t afford to house and feed their student offspring as they slave away in search of a real job. And so why should the affluent get that head start? It reeks of injustice.

So, I fully support your drive for a fairer solution for interns. But unfortunately, and selfishly, I don’t think that I can really afford to cut all ties.

You can check out my blog, following my search through the graduate soup, trying to find a job here: http://the-saturated-solution.blogspot.com/

Rhianna