Do you get paid for work experience in the UK?

It depends on your role. If you're classed as a worker — with set hours and real tasks — you're entitled to at least the National Minimum Wage. Short shadowing or student placements arranged through school, college or university can legally be unpaid.

What's the difference between an internship and a placement?

An internship is usually a paid, temporary role at a company — treated like a short job. A work-experience placement is often shorter, focused on learning, and can be unpaid when it's part of a formal course.

Is unpaid work experience worth doing?

Unpaid placements are worth it when they give you real exposure to an industry, a reference, and a portfolio moment. Avoid roles where you'd be doing a full worker's job for free — that's when you should be paid.

Paid vs unpaid work experience: a graduate's guide

One of the most common questions we hear from graduates and school leavers is simple: do you actually get paid for work experience in the UK? The honest answer is “sometimes” — and knowing the difference protects you from being taken advantage of and helps you pick the placements that will genuinely move your career forward.

The short version

Worker doing real tasks? You're entitled to at least the National Minimum Wage.
Shadowing, or a required part of your course? It can legally be unpaid.
Under 16? Work experience is unpaid by default.
“Volunteer” at a for-profit business doing a real job? That's usually against the rules.

What the law actually says

The UK's National Minimum Wage (NMW) rules are set by HMRC. What matters isn't the label (“intern”, “placement”, “volunteer”) — it's whether you're a worker. You count as a worker if the employer sets your hours, gives you tasks with deadlines, and depends on the output. If that's you, you must be paid at least the NMW for your age band.

There are a few legal exceptions where unpaid work experience is fine:

Placements of up to one year that are a required part of a UK further or higher education course.
Work experience for students of compulsory school age (under 16).
Genuine shadowing where you observe but don't do the work.
Voluntary roles at a registered charity or not-for-profit.

Internship vs placement vs shadowing

These words get used interchangeably, but they mean different things in practice:

Internship — usually 4–12 weeks, paid, with real responsibility. Best when you already know the industry and want proof of experience.
Placement — often part of a course or gap year, can be paid or unpaid depending on length and structure. Great for building a portfolio.
Shadowing — a few days observing a professional. Almost always unpaid. Ideal early on, when you're deciding if a career is right for you.

How to choose the right one for your stage

If you're 16–18 and still exploring, a short shadowing week or a school-arranged placement is perfect — you're gathering signal, not a payslip. If you're at college or on a foundation year, an unpaid placement that's part of your course is normal and fine.

If you've already graduated, or you're taking a gap year, hold out for paid opportunities. If a business is asking you to work fixed hours and deliver real output, they should be paying you. Community only lists placements where the business has told us upfront whether the role is paid, unpaid, or expenses-only — so you can filter by what fits your situation.

Red flags to watch for

“Unpaid trial” longer than a day or two — trials for real jobs should be paid.
Being asked to cover a paid employee's job while they're on leave.
Vague duration (“let's see how it goes”) with no end date.
Charging you a fee to take part in a placement.

Your quick decision checklist

Would I be doing tasks the business relies on? If yes → expect NMW.
Is it a required part of a UK course? If yes → unpaid is legal.
Is it under a week of shadowing? If yes → unpaid is normal.
Is it clearly time-limited with a defined outcome? Good sign.