Media UK

Media UK's policy on advertising un-paid jobs

Does Media UK accept advertisements for unpaid jobs? Normally the answer's... no.

Unpaid jobs, sometimes called "work experience", are normally illegal. Every worker, with some exceptions, is entitled to be paid at least the National Minimum Wage. As at January 2008, the current level of the National Minimum Wage was £5.52 an hour, or £220.80 for a forty-hour week.

Accordingly Media UK no longer accepts advertising for unpaid jobs.

Student 'work experience'
The National Minimum Wage does not need to be paid if:
- the work experience is part of a course for a full-time student
- it is organised by the relevant academic institution
- it is a required part of that course
Given the requirements above, student work experience is not expected to be advertised on Media UK, and Media UK will not accept it.

Charities and not-for-profit organisations
- Charities are normally exempt from the National Minimum Wage. You're therefore free to use Media UK if you're advertising for, for example, a Hospital Radio station.
- Not-for-profit organisations, like community radio stations, may be exempt from the legal requirements of the National Minimum Wage under certain circumstances. Because of this, Media UK does accept all advertising for community radio stations. By posting an unpaid job for a community station, you accept all responsbility around the advert. Eligible "not-for-profit organisations" are only those required to be so by law.

For more information
- Read guidelines from Skillset (pdf)
- Read the DTI Work Experience Guidelines on the PACT website (pdf)
- For more information and discussion, start at the FAQ at The Watercooler