Your HR Partner 
Internships are periods of work experience which can be either paid or unpaid. An intern’s rights depend on their employment status. If an intern is classed as a worker, then they’re normally due the National Minimum Wage.
Internships are sometimes called work placements or work experience. These terms have no legal status on their own. The rights they have depend on their employment status and whether they’re classed as:
- a worker – a person with a Contract to provide work in return for a reward e.g. money and who cannot send a replacement
- a volunteer – a person who does not have an employment contract, or get paid, but may get paid expenses
- an employee – a person who works under a Contract of Employment
In general student interns, those doing work experience, work shadowing or voluntary work are not eligible to receive the minimum wage