{"id":22298,"date":"2024-11-11T14:10:54","date_gmt":"2024-11-11T14:10:54","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.adzuna.co.uk\/blog\/?p=22298"},"modified":"2025-08-18T16:39:58","modified_gmt":"2025-08-18T16:39:58","slug":"hiring-now-the-top-sectors-for-internships-and-grad-schemes","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.adzuna.co.uk\/blog\/hiring-now-the-top-sectors-for-internships-and-grad-schemes\/","title":{"rendered":"Hiring now: The top sectors for internships and grad schemes"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">If you\u2019re 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.<\/span><\/p>\n<p>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\u2019ve made your mind up on a sector but aren\u2019t sure which area within it appeals most.<\/p>\n<p>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 &#8211; 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\u2019ll need to have finished university and be ready to work full-time for an extended period.<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Here\u2019s our cheat sheet to the top sectors and employers currently offering internships and grad schemes.<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"list-style-type: none;\">\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"#1\">Internship opportunities<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"list-style-type: none;\">\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"#2\">Graduate scheme opportunities<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">How many internships are available?\u00a0<\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">This October, we\u2019ve seen 3,817 <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.adzuna.co.uk\/jobs\/internship\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">internships<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> being advertised on Adzuna, offering average salaries of \u00a334,465.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">That might seem like a lot of internships, but it\u2019s 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!<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">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.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">There are numerous reasons behind this. Geopolitical uncertainty and rising business costs have led to lower economic confidence and more hiring hesitation among businesses.<\/span> <span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In tandem, salaries have slipped from \u00a335,621 a year ago, as employers have tightened their purse strings.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">But it\u2019s not all bad news. Many sectors and employers are still looking for interns. Here are the top places still hiring.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\" wp-image-22313 aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/www.adzuna.co.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/next-academy-JyJwO0K5fWM-unsplash-300x177.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1073\" height=\"633\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.adzuna.co.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/next-academy-JyJwO0K5fWM-unsplash-300x177.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.adzuna.co.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/next-academy-JyJwO0K5fWM-unsplash-1024x605.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.adzuna.co.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/next-academy-JyJwO0K5fWM-unsplash-768x453.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.adzuna.co.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/next-academy-JyJwO0K5fWM-unsplash-1536x907.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/www.adzuna.co.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/next-academy-JyJwO0K5fWM-unsplash-2048x1209.jpg 2048w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1073px) 100vw, 1073px\" \/><\/p>\n<h2 id=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The top 5 sectors hiring interns<\/span><\/h2>\n<h3><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">1. IT &#8211; <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.adzuna.co.uk\/jobs\/IT-internship\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">514 advertised internships<\/span><\/a><\/h3>\n<p><b>Top companies hiring: Google, Amazon, Siemens<\/b><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The IT sector has consistently been one of the top industries for internships and takes the lead for advertised positions in 2024.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Overall, tech hiring may have slowed, with 514 internships available compared to last year\u2019s 819, but there remain some hot pockets where employers are keen to develop the next generation of talent.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">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.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">2. Accounting &amp; Finance &#8211; <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.adzuna.co.uk\/jobs\/internship?cat=1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">477 advertised internships<\/span><\/a><\/h3>\n<p><b>Top companies hiring: BNY, JPMorganChase, American Express<\/b><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Hooked on BBC drama Industry and fancy a job in finance? Last year\u2019s top sector for internships, Accounting &amp; Finance, is second on our list with 477 advertised internships.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">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.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">3. PR, Advertising &amp; Marketing &#8211; <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.adzuna.co.uk\/jobs\/internship?cat=9\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">465 advertised internships<\/span><\/a><\/h3>\n<p><b>Top companies hiring: Hilton, Disney<\/b><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Bucking the trend, PR, Advertising &amp; Marketing internships have actually grown, with 465 on offer this October, up from 451 a year ago.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">What\u2019s more, it\u2019s an industry where an internship can often lead to a permanent job offer, so if you\u2019re looking to break into life at an agency or big brand it\u2019s a route well worth considering.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">4. Engineering &#8211; <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.adzuna.co.uk\/jobs\/internship?cat=5\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">390 advertised internships<\/span><\/a><\/h3>\n<p><b>Top companies hiring: Airbus<\/b><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Engineering is a growing sector suffering from a lack of skilled workers, and particularly a lack of skilled female workers &#8211; <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.tecpartners.co.uk\/blog\/view\/289\/Breaking-Barriers-Diversity-Inclusion-In-Engineering\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">the sector is notorious for its lack of diversity<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Demand is shooting up for \u2018green\u2019 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 <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.ecitb.org.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/EC03-ECITB-ET-Report-FINAL-23.01.18-1.pdf\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">19.5% of engineers working in the UK due to retire by 2026<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, likely creating a big hole in the workforce.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">It all adds up to a sector keen to recruit the engineers of the future via internships.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">5. Consultancy &#8211; <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.adzuna.co.uk\/jobs\/internship?cat=18\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">308 advertised internships<\/span><\/a><\/h3>\n<p><b>Top companies hiring: EY, PwC, Gartner<\/b><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The \u2018big four\u2019 professional services firms &#8211; EY, KPMG, Deloitte and PwC &#8211; 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.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Another advantage of going somewhere that hires a bunch of interns is the camaraderie among fellow interns &#8211; it can simply be more fun!\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Consultancy is also another sector where internship opportunities have stayed pretty steady, with 308 openings on offer, nearly level with last year\u2019s 371.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2 id=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">How many graduate scheme jobs are there?<\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Internships aren\u2019t the only entry-level roles that have declined in number; graduate scheme jobs have also become more scarce.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">October 2024 saw 2,799 <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.adzuna.co.uk\/jobs\/graduate-scheme\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">graduate scheme openings<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> on offer, down from 4,933 a year before and slipping from 4,459 in 2022.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">However, wages are a bright spot. Advertised salaries have grown slightly from \u00a331,859 to \u00a332,539.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Again, let\u2019s take a look at where openings can still be found.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\" wp-image-22319 aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/www.adzuna.co.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/nipyata-3DMO7ttpyb4-unsplash-300x200.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"758\" height=\"505\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.adzuna.co.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/nipyata-3DMO7ttpyb4-unsplash-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.adzuna.co.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/nipyata-3DMO7ttpyb4-unsplash-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.adzuna.co.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/nipyata-3DMO7ttpyb4-unsplash-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.adzuna.co.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/nipyata-3DMO7ttpyb4-unsplash-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/www.adzuna.co.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/nipyata-3DMO7ttpyb4-unsplash-2048x1365.jpg 2048w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 758px) 100vw, 758px\" \/><\/p>\n<h2><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The top 5 sectors for grad schemes<\/span><\/h2>\n<h3><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">1. Engineering &#8211; 105 grad scheme openings<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><b>Top companies hiring: CBRE, BAE Systems, National Nuclear Laboratory<\/b><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Engineering roles can be highly technical, especially in areas like nuclear energy, net zero consultancy, and aerospace.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Large firms like CBRE and BAE Systems are offering graduate schemes to train the next generation of talent in these specialised areas.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">2. Accounting &amp; Finance &#8211; 98 grad scheme openings<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><b>Top companies hiring: Barclays, Lloyds, Zurich, Unilever<\/b><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Once again, large banks continue to offer grad schemes in the finance space. These can also be lucrative &#8211; we spotted salaries as high as \u00a345,000 for some areas of the Lloyds graduate scheme.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Meanwhile, large corporations like Unilever are also offering graduate schemes to those with a finance background.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">3. Scientific &amp; QA &#8211; 54 grad scheme openings<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><b>Top companies hiring: National Nuclear Laboratory<\/b><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Like Engineering, Science and QA, is an area with a skills shortage. If you\u2019ve got the right degree, a graduate scheme could be a good option to get practical experience quickly after university.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">4. IT &#8211; 46 grad scheme openings<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><b>Top companies hiring: Tesco, Asda, Lloyds<\/b><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">If you\u2019re looking for a grad scheme to suit your IT background, don\u2019t 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.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">5. Consultancy &#8211; 45 grad scheme openings<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><b>Top companies hiring: EY, BAE Systems<\/b><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Again, the big four offer some of the most prestigious and most competitive graduate schemes in the game.<\/span><\/p>\n<div class=\"blog-cta-box\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Looking for an internship or a grad scheme? You can search the full range of internships on Adzuna <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.adzuna.co.uk\/jobs\/internship\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">here<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. You can also check out Adzuna\u2019s latest AI-powered tool \u2013\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.adzuna.com\/apply-iq\">ApplyIQ<\/a> \u2013 that helps automate your internship search and apply smarter.<\/span><\/div>\n<hr \/>\n<p><strong><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"emoji\" src=\"https:\/\/s.w.org\/images\/core\/emoji\/11\/svg\/1f4a1.svg\" alt=\"\" \/>\u00a0Read more:\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.adzuna.co.uk\/blog\/guide-to-uk-graduate-schemes\/\">The ultimate guide to UK graduate schemes<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.adzuna.co.uk\/blog\/14-tips-for-final-year-students-to-land-the-dream-job\/\">14 tips for final year students to land the dream job<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>If you\u2019re 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<a class=\"moretag\" href=\"https:\/\/www.adzuna.co.uk\/blog\/hiring-now-the-top-sectors-for-internships-and-grad-schemes\/\"> Continued \u00bb<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":51,"featured_media":22324,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1109,841],"tags":[1112],"class_list":["post-22298","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-finding-a-job","category-graduates","tag-featured"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.adzuna.co.uk\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/22298","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.adzuna.co.uk\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.adzuna.co.uk\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.adzuna.co.uk\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/51"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.adzuna.co.uk\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=22298"}],"version-history":[{"count":5,"href":"https:\/\/www.adzuna.co.uk\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/22298\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":23378,"href":"https:\/\/www.adzuna.co.uk\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/22298\/revisions\/23378"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.adzuna.co.uk\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/22324"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.adzuna.co.uk\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=22298"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.adzuna.co.uk\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=22298"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.adzuna.co.uk\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=22298"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}