A template letter from an employer offering an internship to a candidate, for use in England & Wales.
⚠️ Most interns who do real work are "workers" entitled to the minimum wage. Calling a role an "internship" or "work experience" does not make it unpaid. If the intern does real work (set hours, set tasks, under your direction), they are almost certainly a worker and must be paid at least the National Minimum/Living Wage. Genuinely unpaid arrangements are narrow (for example, a placement of up to a year that is part of a UK higher/further education course, or genuine voluntary work for a charity). Take advice before offering an unpaid internship.
How to use this template - Replace every
[SQUARE-BRACKET]field before use. - Provide a written statement of main terms on or before day one (Employment Rights Act 1996, s 1) if the intern is a worker/employee.
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[COMPANY NAME] [ADDRESS]
[DATE]
[CANDIDATE NAME] [ADDRESS]
Dear [CANDIDATE NAME]
Internship offer, [ROLE TITLE]
We are pleased to offer you an internship with [COMPANY NAME] as [ROLE TITLE]. We were impressed by your application and look forward to you joining us.
Key terms of the internship:
- Start and end dates: from [START DATE] to [END DATE] (a fixed-term internship of [NUMBER] weeks/months).
- Hours and place of work: [HOURS] per week, at [LOCATION] [with any agreed remote arrangement].
- Pay: £[AMOUNT] per [hour/week], which is at least the National Minimum/Living Wage for your age. [If genuinely unpaid under a recognised exemption, state the legal basis and take advice.]
- Supervisor: you will report to [NAME, ROLE].
- Duties: [BRIEF DESCRIPTION of what the intern will do and learn].
- Holiday: you will accrue paid holiday in line with the law (pro rata).
- Confidentiality and IP: you must keep our and our clients' information confidential. Intellectual property created in the course of the internship will be owned by or assigned to the company to the extent provided by law and under the terms of this offer; you may be asked to sign documents to confirm or assign relevant rights.
This offer is subject to [satisfactory references / proof of your right to work in the UK / [OTHER CONDITIONS]].
Please confirm your acceptance by signing and returning a copy of this letter by [DATE]. We will provide your written statement of main terms on or before your first day.
We look forward to welcoming you.
Yours sincerely
[NAME] [JOB TITLE], [COMPANY NAME]
Accepted by: __________________ [CANDIDATE NAME] Date: [DATE]
--- This template is general information about the law of England & Wales as at 2026, not legal advice. Most interns are workers entitled to the minimum wage, have a qualified solicitor review before use. Governing law: England & Wales.