UK: Internships to the rescue

Ministers have proposed measures to help the class of 2009 graduates into work as they face a tough battle ahead for jobs in the economic downturn. Four leading companies, including Microsoft and Barclays Bank, have signed up to an internship scheme where graduates work at reduced rates for up to three months to gain experience.

Universities Secretary John Denham said the government was keen to make sure the children of the baby-boomers had a good chance to get jobs and build good careers."The internship scheme will give them an opportunity to gain real experience of using their skills at work, and give them the best chance of showing employers what they can do," Denham said.

Interns will be paid slightly above the current student grant of £2,835 ($4,620) so they will not suffer a cut in income. Denham wants to encourage public sector employers and charities as well as business to take part in the scheme.

The Conservative Shadow Skills Secretary David Willetts said: "A small number of businesses taking on graduate interns is welcome but this does not match the scale of the crisis facing young people trying to find jobs." His party has proposed focusing more than £500 million helping young people get apprenticeships and worthwhile job opportunities.

Liberal Democrat innovation, universities and skills spokesman Stephen Williams said: "This shows how dire the economic situation has become. It is important that companies do not exploit these proposals by seeing them as an opportunity to get cheap labour."

diane.spencer@uw-news.com