DC Water’s Post

Ok peeps I checked with Thames Water and they have come back to me ( note their 83,000 followers!) and confirmed in answer to my Infrequently Asked Question that all these interns were paid a “ living wage”. Obviously you need to check these things with companies that have been accused of putting overseas corporate shareholder dividends before investing in infrastructure plant & machinery and of course are trying to keep enough cash “flowing” ( geddit?) before going into administration next year seemingly. Thames Water internships/ apprenticeships sound eerily like the apprenticeships being giving by HS2 : although you can argue about whether the main aim of the corporate entity is being achieved ( clean water: efficient high speed transport) hopefully these people will be having first rate transferable skills training that will help towards New New Labours “ Young Futures: National Renewal Programme”. In essence look at Thames Water & HS2 as training providers to ensure that going forwards we have a pipeline of well qualified motivated young people who can make a long term contribution towards the UK economy even if we don’t have clean water or trains running otherwise than between Acton West London & Ashton ( Birmingham) albeit at twice light speed. It’s an ill wind that blows no one any good so….. assuming that someone can verify that the Thames Water & HS2 Apprenticeship schemes are indeed 5 star 🌟 🌟 🌟 🌟 🌟 what opportunities in the Water & Rail industries can be offered to UK’s 136,000 (16-24 year old ) young homeless or as I prefer to call them “ Young Underinvested” so that they too can jump onto first rate apprenticeship schemes when they start after the August Bank holiday ….. which is this Friday!!!! Then provided we can sort out remote learning apprenticeships for such 136k Young Underinvested from 1st September through a “ Clearing “ type system (which is one plank of the QuAlms Haus Co Living & Working Eco Village concept) all we need to do is formulate an Empties into Watertight and Windproof properties initiative with Anthony from Gyr Properties within UK’s 14 Free Green Ports so that the 136k have got a roof over their heads now that the weather has started to get wetter and windier. Phil is having tea biscuits and cucumber sandwiches with those nice people at the Civil Society tomorrow so hopefully he can give us all a Match Report on his “Unity 4 UK” idea on Wednesday. Good job we’ve got the long weekend … a lot to do. Thanks Thames …. Btw “ how much is a living wage for interns these days as a matter of interest?” Reality check : of course INW “ it’ll never work” because this is Britain 🇬🇧 but something needs to pdq This musing was brought to you by “ Tread softly for you tread on my dreams dot com” All rights ( no wrongs ) reserved 2024

Um. OK. I'm glad that I'm a "high experience match" for an unpaid internship. If I were to participate in this unpaid internship, how do you suppose I eat? Shall I consume the flesh of an underperforming employee? Or perhaps I can feast on the company's lobby's fresh supply of plastic plants? OH, or maybe there's old computer equipment I can boil into a stew? FFS. Few things... 1) Pay your interns. 2) Pay your interns. 3) Pay people enough so they can focus on the job.

It’s May - the Season of Interns is just beginning. College students all over the world explore prospective careers and seek meaningful work experiences during the summer term. Many companies offer internships to fill in for vacationing staff and complete interesting projects. Interns and companies size up the other, wondering if there’s a fit for the future. The *best* organizations recognize the value of the intern and the impact of a good - or bad - experience on their brand. #strategy #leadership #talentmanagement

Legal internships could be a way to determine whether a legal career is right for you. It can also be an opportunity to expand your legal network. #legalcareer #internshipopportunities #careerchangers #lawcareer #itsjustthatserious

Here's an example of an internship that is actually worth taking. To LinkedIn admins: If you want me to turn internships back on in my preferences, then I suggest actually allowing opportunities similar to this to show up in candidate "For You" feeds instead of promoting the unpaid junk. Again: If fast food workers in California are required by law to get paid $20 per hour, then there's absolutely no reason why IT interns shouldn't be paid *at least* an additional $5 per hour beyond that.

Internships serve as a crucial bridge between academic learning and professional employment, especially in industries struggling to attract fresh talent. By offering substantial, paid summer internships, companies not only gain early access to the best students but also secure their future workforce well before graduation. This practice not only enhances the students' practical skills and experience but also strengthens the company's talent pipeline, proving the value of investing in early career development.

Internships: In California, most internships should be paid. The exception? If the internship closely aligns with educational training. Key points to remember: ✔ Interns shouldn't significantly benefit the employer financially. ✔ The experience should be akin to what's learned in vocational schools. ✔ Interns shouldn't be substituting regular employees, nor should they be promised a job post-internship. We advise safeguarding your internship rights, ensuring fair treatment, and compliance with legal standards. Learn more: https://lnkd.in/gFvYU-Q6 #InternshipRights #LegalSupport

To those who have begun the search for summer interns, this is one of the first things I plan to share with my interns: I will scrutinize your work a lot harder than I would for an employee, because my goal is not to just get it done. My goal is to provide you an experience that makes you the best possible person at it. You will most likely get twice the criticism and accolades you would if you were a paid employee. That will taper off as you get better, but only as you get better.  You will also be provided a list of the skills you acquire and how to articulate them on your resume when you apply.

Summer at the Network usually starts off with our Annual Intern Virtual Brown Bag Lunch with the boss. 🤣 And what a pleasure it was to welcome our new intern class, another fantastic group of talented individuals and rising star professionals. 🌟 It's amazing to see students joining us from a wide range of colleges, from Princeton to Loyal University, some having just graduated, and others pursuing law degrees. Their diverse backgrounds and perspectives bring a breath of fresh air into our organization, which we believe is critical to helping us keep the Network responsive to the next generation of talent. These bright, engaging individuals have truly impressed me with their insightful questions and enthusiasm. One standout moment was when one of the interns asked, "What surprised you most about the industry, and what is something you never thought you would learn when you created this organization?" It made me reflect on the incredible journey we've had and the ever-evolving nature of our field, which we all agreed keeps us engaged, challenged and passionate about offshore wind. Over the years, our internship program has grown significantly, becoming more and more competitive. This is a direct reflection of the increasing interest in offshore wind, courses being offered in colleges and exposure to the industry at younger ages. What's particularly exciting is how well-prepared they are. These interns come with a solid understanding of the industry, allowing us to dive straight into more advanced discussions and put them to work on some complex projects. Are you seeing similar trends with your internship program? Are there other insights you want to share? Or just brag about your new summer talent? We would love to hear from you and please do tell us about the summer students lending their intellect and time to our industry. Here's to the NextWave of industry professionals and the continued growth of all of our internship programs! #InternshipProgram #FutureLeaders #CareerDevelopment #OffshoreWind

Our interns are well on their way to taking steps into employment and although first jobs are not always our favourite (mine was in a banana packing factory) it is important to recognise what they gave us, what they meant to us and what they allowed us to do next. It would be great to share some of your thoughts with our interns, so if you have a spare few minutes please add a comment to this post. #employment #supportedinternships