Students on marketing internships – to pay or not to pay?

The debate over whether university students should or should not be paid for experience has again resurfaced, this time with particular emphasis  on PR and marketing agencies. In August 2012, Robert Minton-Taylor, a well-known marketing academic, accused PR agencies of unethical work practices.  Whilst it is most likely that this debate has come about recently as a result of the latest increase in undergraduate tuition fees, issues of unpaid work and high tuition fees must remain separate. Unavailable work experience, paid or unpaid, is a problem that undergraduates and graduates are facing on a regular basis and deserves attention as serious issue in and of itself.

We have largely heard from professionals and academics on this matter, but as this issue largely concerns the welfare of students, the students’ voice needs to be heard. I have been working part- time in Manchester based PR Agency, Refresh PR, since April 2012. I know how much value working at the company has given me and like most other students, I know how important gaining experience is in order to secure a job post-graduation.

When I first started looking for work experience over a year ago, I knew it would be difficult. Considering there are nearly 94,000 students in Manchester alone, it is a blatant fact that demand for work experience in any industry outstrips the possibilities on offer for students. The reality is that agencies often don’t pay students for work experience because they don’t have to. Students are so desperate to find any experience to put on their CVs; they will often be willing to work unpaid.

Of course, the fact that students are willing to work without pay for companies does not justify the argument that not paying students should be the norm. Instead, it is important to consider the ethical implications of not paying a person for the work that they have undertaken. There are several factors that need to be taken into account, and I am not suggesting a blanket rule for all students and all firms.

Firstly, I would argue that a key question to this debate could be: what does an ‘intern’ add to the value of a company? What an intern contributes during their work experience is ultimately up to the company, rather than the student. It is the company that dictates the student’s schedule, where the student has the potential to flourish. If the firm simply wants an intern to make coffee and file paperwork, then that’s all they will get out of that student. Often, companies underestimate the worth that a fresh face can bring to a company.

Secondly, when does work experience stop being experience and turn into work? This could either be dependent on the period of time that the student spends at the company, or the intensity of the work they do. As Robert Minton has previously mentioned, companies can charge work that students have undertaken back to their clients; this is clearly work. However, if a student is taken on for a week or two week basis, in which they carry out tasks that introduce them to that particular field, and receive training from staff, then that arguably does not have to be paid.

The difficulty in specifying what should or shouldn’t be paid is the reason why I’m not arguing that paying interns for the work they do should be a blanket ‘rule’. Rather, at this initial time, it is important to educate firms on the potential worth that a student can bring and to nurture their talent. At Refresh PR, I started as an intern and I now have a graduate job. Whilst I was a paid intern, that initial experience in an award-nominated agency, has been priceless. Unfortunately, whilst it is crucial to boost experience on offer for students, this may mean that fewer students will be paid for their work as often companies either don’t want to, or cannot afford to pay students who come in on a temporary basis.

The upcoming CIM debate is a step in the right direction to addressing the issues of student work experience in the industry. Students need to be made aware of the fact that there are firms out there, who are willing to pay students for their work, and that they are a valued asset to a company on either a short or long term basis. For agencies, the debate provides the opportunity to find out about the views and opinions from the opposite side, and to realise the potential that young people have, who, inevitably are the future marketing and PR directors.

The Marketing Debate Chaired by The Chartered Institute of Marketing will be held in Manchester on the 18^th April. It is free for students, for more information and booking, please visithttp://www.cim.co.uk/Events/EventDetails.aspx?crid=51829