Unpaid work experience
Employer guidelines
Students need valuable work experience as evidence of their skills, commitment and understanding of the industry. We know that without experience, particularly in sectors such as media, advertising and journalism, it is very difficult to compete for work and for many students unpaid work experience provides a route in.
Some employers are able to offer unpaid work experience or work shadowing for students and recent graduates during the vacation periods, on a part-time basis throughout the year or for a short time period. Jobshop Online| at Southampton Solent University can advertise these vacancies free of charge.
Unpaid work experience should not end up putting the student out of pocket. Where possible we are grateful if employers can pay reasonable travel expenses and/or provide lunch vouchers.
In some instances we recognise that what starts out as a temporary period of unpaid work experience may develop into something more and we understand that this may benefit our students' long term. Where this is the case we advise employers to take the necessary actions to meet all legal requirements in relation to contracts, pay and deductions.
We ask employers to consider that if students are contributing to the profitability or objectives of the organisation, expected to behave as employees, working on more than a casual or short-term basis (more than 4 weeks), or asked to agree to any contractual agreement as an employee, employers must pay them a proper wage. For more information about the National Minimum Wage visit the HMRC website|
Please note that Solent students are provided with guidelines about seeking or accepting unpaid work, along with information about the NMW and Employment Rights.
If you have any queries about unpaid work experience please contact the Employment team jobshop@solent.ac.uk|.