European Youth Forum awarded Quality Label for its internships

Brussels, 24th February 2015 // The European Youth Forum has been awarded the top level of the European Label for Quality Internships by InternsGoPro.

The Youth Forum, which offers several internship opportunities, both as graduate full time positions and as part of studies, is the first employer to be granted the InternsGoPro Quality Label (the highest level, “Champion”). The label means that the Youth Forum has been certified as providing top quality internships which fulfil several key criteria developed by InternsGoPro. These include remuneration, an internship contract, a good learning experience for the intern with proper supervision and guidance, a positive working environment and the opportunity for career development.

Internships have become a rite of passage for young people, but the quality of such internships is often unacceptable, with many not even taking place within an educational experience, according to the Youth Forum. Whilst almost half of Europe’s young people have done an internship, only one third of these are paid and, of those that are paid, 58% do not cover basic living costs and 35% of interns are not offered a contract. The Youth Forum works towards making internships a valuable stepping stone into a good quality job, rather than – as they too often are – the replacement of real jobs.

InternsGoPro have developed the Quality Label on the basis of the European Charter for Quality Internships and Apprenticeships. The Charter advocates for employers and politicians to commit to quality standards and to apply a clear and coherent code of conduct, leading by example, in order to end the use of young Europeans as a cheap labour force.

Johanna Nyman, President of the European Youth Forum, said:

“Internships and apprenticeships can be a valuable step in the transition from education to professional life. However, the lack of clear quality guidelines undermines the main purpose of internships as educational opportunities that give practical skills to young people. Internships today are increasingly offering little educational value and instead are replacing real jobs, but with none of the security and value of a real job they are effectively slave labour!

“We are delighted that we have been awarded the InternsGoPro Champion level Quality Label and that we ‘practice what we preach’ and lead the way in providing internships of good quality. We hope that many more employers will apply for the Quality Label, as well as sign our Charter, to prove that they are also providing good quality internships.”

Pierre-Julien Bosser co-founder at InternsGoPro, said:

“We are honoured to award the European Youth Forum the European Label for Quality Internships – Champion Level. The Forum has demonstrated exceptional efforts to support youth employment and advocate for internships that truly help young people get a job. Their internship programme is a perfect example of good practices and we hope it will inspire more employers to change their practices and help more people integrate in the job market.

“The European Label for Quality Internships has been designed to showcase the best employers for youth in all industries and for the whole of Europe. InternsGoPro aims at creating a ranking of the best internship programs in Europe for beginning of 2016.”

Notes to the editor:

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: 24th February 2015 Press contacts: Sarah Farndale, European Youth Forum, + 32 2 793 75 37 sarah.farndale@youthforum.org / press@youthforum.org Pierre-Julier Bosser, Interns Go Pro, +32 484492091, pierre.bosser@internsgopro.com

About the European Youth Forum The European Youth Forum is the platform of youth organisations in Europe. Independent, democratic, youth-led, it represents 99 National Youth Councils and international youth organisations from across the continent. The Forum works to empower young people to participate actively in society to improve their own lives, by representing and advocating their needs and interests and those of their organisations towards the European Union, the Council of Europe and the United Nations. For more information, visit www.youthforum.org

About InternsGoPro InternsGoPro is a social enterprise with the mission to boost youth employment and promote internships that truly help students and graduates develop skills and get a job. We aim to create a new reference for quality internships and entry-level jobs in Europe and give visibility to the best employers. To do so, we certify great employers for youth and enable young people to access quality internship offers and a peer-to-peer internship ratings database. For more information, visit www.internsgopro.com