The Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD) and the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales (ICAEW), have jointly launched the 'Government's Common Best Practice Code for High-Quality Internships'.

The Code has been developed by the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills' (BIS) Collaborative Forum on Fair Access to the Professions, and draws heavily on the CIPD's own internships guide, 'Internships that work: A guide for employers'. It is designed as a guideline for organisations seeking to ensure fair, open and high-quality internships as a means of improving social mobility and enabling organisations to access wider talent pools.

Jackie Orme, CIPD Chief Executive, commented "internships are a valuable resource for those looking to improve their employability before taking their first step on the career ladder, but they must be fully accessible and operated to a high standard if they are to be of maximum benefit. We recognised this in our own internships guide and are pleased to see the message so comprehensively reinforced in this Code, which the government have built around our earlier guidance. We hope that it will be effective at encouraging employers to provide the kind of placements that are rewarding to both young people and organisations."

"As the 'gatekeepers of recruitment', members of the HR profession have a unique and vital role to play in ensuring that recruitment practices are open and transparent, and internships are well-managed. Done right, internships can provide a real kick-start to an individual's career and offer a great opportunity for employers to widen their horizons and find new talent."