Did your internship give you what you needed to succeed?

Internships are supposed to provide valuable work experience, professional contacts in your field and give you a chance to shine in front of a potential employer. But sometimes, it doesn’t work out that way…

We are looking for young people who have completed an internship in any field in London to be interviewed about their experiences.

If you are interested in taking part, please fill out our Contact Form below and our researcher Rachel Wilde will be in touch with you shortly to arrange a convenient time and location to interview you. All personal details will remain confidential and will never be shared with a third party. Please read our further details beneath the form.

Study Title: Getting in and getting on in the Youth Labour Market: entry practices, under-employment and skill formation in regional economies.

Research Team: Professor Pauline Leonard, University of Southampton; Dr Rachel Wilde, Institute of Education, University of London.

Please read this information carefully before deciding to take part in this research.  If you are happy to participate you will be asked to sign a ConsentForm.

What is the research about?

This project is funded by the Economic and Social Research Council and is part of a larger project being undertaken by the Centre for Learning and Life Chances in Knowledge Economies and Societies (LLAKES) based at the Institute of Education, University of London. The project is investigating the fact that a number of ‘Youth Labour Markets’ now exist in the UK, each providing different opportunities for an expanding age group of 18-30 year olds. In addition, there are an increasing number of different ways of ‘getting in’ to work (internships, voluntary work placements, entry tournaments) across the public, private and voluntary sectors. Different regions within the UK have instituted strategies for local economic growth and regeneration which often include schemes to help young people access new skills and get into work. We know very little about the success of these schemes and how young people’s experiences of getting into work and getting on within their careers varies across the different regions of the UK. The project will take a comparative approach by looking at 5 different regions across the UK to explore entry schemes, employment and early careers.

What will happen to me if I take part?

You will be invited to be interviewed by a member of the research team.  The interview will be face to face and last around an hour.  Before the interview commences you will have the opportunity to ask questions about the project and your involvement.  The researcher will explain how the information you provide will be treated and stored confidentially, and that you will not be named in any reporting process. At the start of the interview, you will be invited to read and sign a ConsentForm to indicate that you have understood what is involved and your right to withdraw from the process at any time, and without giving any explanation.

Are there any benefits in my taking part?

Your involvement will contribute to the quality and usefulness of the research findings and outcomes. We are open to incorporating your particular concerns or questions relevant to this area of research. You will receive a free copy of the findings report.

Are there any risks involved?

There are no risks involved.

Will my participation by confidential?

Yes. With your consent, the interview will be recorded and transcribed and this record will be kept strictly confidential, on password-protected computer files which are accessible only to members of the research team.  As required by the Data Protection Act, we will not pass on any person-identifiable data to any external agency. Any references in reports and articles to data gathered will be anonymised – no reference will be made to you or your institution by name.

If you consent, the anonymised research data will be archived with the UK Data Archive run by the Economic and Social Research Council in order to make them available to other researchers in line with current data sharing practices.

What will you use the data for?

We will write a report for the project and we will also use the research for articles in academic and professional journals.

What happens if I change my mind?

Your participation in this research is voluntary and you have the right to withdraw from the process at anytime.  If you do so, all record of the information you have provided will be destroyed and it will not be referred to in the research.

What happens if I have a complaint?

In the event that you have any concerns or complaints about the way the research has been conducted, please contact: Professor Pauline Leonard, Pauline.Leonard[at]soton.ac.uk, 0238 059 4745

Where can I get more information?

A member of the research team will be happy to answer any further questions, and in the first instance please contact Dr Rachel Wilde:

R.Wilde[at]ioe.ac.uk
Centre for Learning and Life Chances in Knowledge Economies and Societies (LLAKES)
Institute of Education
20 Bedford Way WC1H 0AL
0207 331 5114
07582 273 308

Take Part