If you’re looking to start a career via an internship or graduate scheme, now is the time to start applying. Job ads for internships typically peak in October, while grad schemes are generally open for applications between September and January, with a few key deadlines along the way.
While an internship can be a great way to dip your toe into an industry to find out if you like it, a graduate scheme could be right for you if you’ve made your mind up on a sector but aren’t sure which area within it appeals most.
Most graduate schemes will allow you to rotate through different departments within a company, getting exposure to how a business works and what function could suit you best. Graduate schemes also typically last longer than internships – anywhere between one and four years. You could complete an internship during your university summer holidays (and you may not even need a degree), but for a graduate scheme, you’ll need to have finished university and be ready to work full-time for an extended period.
Here’s our cheat sheet to the top sectors and employers currently offering internships and grad schemes.
How many internships are available?
This October, we’ve seen 3,817 internships being advertised on Adzuna, offering average salaries of £34,465.
That might seem like a lot of internships, but it’s actually far fewer than a year ago. There were 5,489 openings advertised in October 2023 and even more the year before (5,853). It seems internship opportunities are shrinking!
This is consistent with overall hiring trends. Our latest Jobs Report revealed that overall hiring has fallen to a three-year low, driving up competition for positions.
There are numerous reasons behind this. Geopolitical uncertainty and rising business costs have led to lower economic confidence and more hiring hesitation among businesses. In tandem, salaries have slipped from £35,621 a year ago, as employers have tightened their purse strings.
But it’s not all bad news. Many sectors and employers are still looking for interns. Here are the top places still hiring.
The top 5 sectors hiring interns
1. IT – 514 advertised internships
Top companies hiring: Google, Amazon, Siemens
The IT sector has consistently been one of the top industries for internships and takes the lead for advertised positions in 2024.
Overall, tech hiring may have slowed, with 514 internships available compared to last year’s 819, but there remain some hot pockets where employers are keen to develop the next generation of talent.
You can find internships in trending areas from cyber security, to data science, and software development. AI and machine learning internships may be another rich area to explore.
2. Accounting & Finance – 477 advertised internships
Top companies hiring: BNY, JPMorganChase, American Express
Hooked on BBC drama Industry and fancy a job in finance? Last year’s top sector for internships, Accounting & Finance, is second on our list with 477 advertised internships.
This is around a third of the number seen last year (1,237), suggesting the sector has pulled back significantly on hiring amid wider uncertainty. However, there are still opportunities up for grabs at investment banks like BNY and firms like American Express.
3. PR, Advertising & Marketing – 465 advertised internships
Top companies hiring: Hilton, Disney
Bucking the trend, PR, Advertising & Marketing internships have actually grown, with 465 on offer this October, up from 451 a year ago.
What’s more, it’s an industry where an internship can often lead to a permanent job offer, so if you’re looking to break into life at an agency or big brand it’s a route well worth considering.
4. Engineering – 390 advertised internships
Top companies hiring: Airbus
Engineering is a growing sector suffering from a lack of skilled workers, and particularly a lack of skilled female workers – the sector is notorious for its lack of diversity.
Demand is shooting up for ‘green’ engineering experts, as well as highly skilled engineers for technical areas like robotics, and large infrastructure projects. At the same time the current workforce is ageing, with 19.5% of engineers working in the UK due to retire by 2026, likely creating a big hole in the workforce.
It all adds up to a sector keen to recruit the engineers of the future via internships.
5. Consultancy – 308 advertised internships
Top companies hiring: EY, PwC, Gartner
The ‘big four’ professional services firms – EY, KPMG, Deloitte and PwC – are consistently some of the top places to find internships. They take on a large cohort of interns every year in areas ranging from tax to audit to finance, providing a structured training programme often leading to permanent job offers to boot.
Another advantage of going somewhere that hires a bunch of interns is the camaraderie among fellow interns – it can simply be more fun!
Consultancy is also another sector where internship opportunities have stayed pretty steady, with 308 openings on offer, nearly level with last year’s 371.
How many graduate scheme jobs are there?
Internships aren’t the only entry-level roles that have declined in number; graduate scheme jobs have also become more scarce.
October 2024 saw 2,799 graduate scheme openings on offer, down from 4,933 a year before and slipping from 4,459 in 2022.
However, wages are a bright spot. Advertised salaries have grown slightly from £31,859 to £32,539.
Again, let’s take a look at where openings can still be found.
The top 5 sectors for grad schemes
1. Engineering – 105 grad scheme openings
Top companies hiring: CBRE, BAE Systems, National Nuclear Laboratory
Engineering roles can be highly technical, especially in areas like nuclear energy, net zero consultancy, and aerospace.
Large firms like CBRE and BAE Systems are offering graduate schemes to train the next generation of talent in these specialised areas.
2. Accounting & Finance – 98 grad scheme openings
Top companies hiring: Barclays, Lloyds, Zurich, Unilever
Once again, large banks continue to offer grad schemes in the finance space. These can also be lucrative – we spotted salaries as high as £45,000 for some areas of the Lloyds graduate scheme.
Meanwhile, large corporations like Unilever are also offering graduate schemes to those with a finance background.
3. Scientific & QA – 54 grad scheme openings
Top companies hiring: National Nuclear Laboratory
Like Engineering, Science and QA, is an area with a skills shortage. If you’ve got the right degree, a graduate scheme could be a good option to get practical experience quickly after university.
4. IT – 46 grad scheme openings
Top companies hiring: Tesco, Asda, Lloyds
If you’re looking for a grad scheme to suit your IT background, don’t limit your options to the tech sector. Many large companies in other sectors like retail or FMCG have IT-specific graduate schemes, with Tesco and Asda being just two of those that caught our eye.
5. Consultancy – 45 grad scheme openings
Top companies hiring: EY, BAE Systems
Again, the big four offer some of the most prestigious and most competitive graduate schemes in the game.
Read more: The ultimate guide to UK graduate schemes