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A survey of UK companies has revealed that a whopping 17% advertise internships at their businesses because they are a good way to get jobs done for less money.

The research was done by YouGov on behalf of social enterprise group Internocracy and canvassed the opinions of over 2,600 people in the UK.

The survey also highlighted the fact that only 1 in 10 young people understood that unpaid internships could be illegal. Managers were marginally more clued up, with 1 in 8 realising that employment law might rule out advertising unpaid internships.

Becky Heath, Chief Executive of Internocracy, said: “It's a real shame that young people don't know their employment rights. Conversely it is disappointing that businesses don't understand what interns are worth and the new talent, energy and enthusiasm they bring to the workplace.”

On a more positive note, 95% of the 218 managers surveyed by YouGov said that interns were useful to their companies’ businesses.

Internships have been much in the news of late, with the high profile internship clash between Messrs Cameron and Clegg.

Regardless of the rights and wrongs of the pay debate surrounding internships, it is undeniable that they are a great way to pick up work experience in fields relevant to your preferred future career. Engaging in a successful and relevant internship placement can be the difference between you landing a graduate job and you losing out to someone else.

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