Connect
London, 13 October 2011 - The PRCA has today launched a campaign to end unpaid internships with PR Week.
The PRCA website will list all agency members who pay their interns at least the National Minimum Wage in order that students and graduates are aware of the agencies that provide fair payment for their services. The Association believes that this commitment will make the industry more attractive to the brightest and best, and will help encourage diversity in the workforce. This initiative is part of the PRCA’s commitment to raising standards and increasing social mobility in the PR industry.
The list can be found here: PRCA Intern Campaign
The professional body and PR Week are also working with Talk PR, and other interested agencies to develop an industry-wide internship accreditation.
Further to listing members who pay their interns, the PRCA has already signed up to the Deputy Prime Minister’s Business Compact, and has encouraged members who have not already signed to follow suit.
The Deputy Prime Minister, Nick Clegg, had this to say about unpaid internships in PR:
“The PR industry is – more than anything – about people. Pitches and press releases are only as good as the individuals behind them. In an ever more competitive industry, it’s innovation that gives you your edge.
“But where does your fresh talent come from? The interns and work experience staff who rise through the ranks – are they the best of the best? Or are they just friends of friends? The account manager’s son or daughter?
“The fact is, workplaces across Britain desperately need to be opened up, and PR is no exception. Too often it’s who you know – not what you know – that counts. But in a truly fair and open society ability trumps privilege – not just because it’s right, but because it’s good for business too.
“So I am delighted that many of the country’s biggest organisations and employers have already signed up – including the PRCA and PR Week. I want to encourage every company across the PR industry to join too.”
Francis Ingham, PRCA Chief Executive, said: “Ours is a people business that needs to attract the very brightest talent, regardless of background.
“Our work here will help PRCA members do just that -to recruit the best people available, and to ensure that nobody is deterred from a career in the PR industry because they are poor.”
-ENDS-
Notes to Editors
For media enquiries please contact Tom Hawkins – tom.hawkins@prca.org.uk
About the PRCA
Who we are: Founded in 1969, the PRCA is the professional body that represents UK PR consultancies, in-house communications teams and PR freelancers and individuals. The PRCA promotes all aspects of public relations and internal communications work, helping teams and individuals maximise the value they deliver to clients and organisations.
What we do: The Association exists to raise standards in PR and communications, providing members with industry data, facilitating the sharing of communications best practice and creating networking opportunities.
How we do it and make a difference: All PRCA members are bound by a professional charter and codes of conduct, and benefit from exceptional training. The Association also works for the greater benefit of the industry, sharing best practice and lobbying on the industry's behalf e.g. fighting the NLA's digital licence.
Who we represent: The PRCA represents many of the major consultancies in the UK, and currently has more than 250 agency members from around the world including the majority of the top 100 UK consultancies. We also represent around 70 in-house communications teams from multinationals, UK charities and leading UK public sector organisations.
