400 apply for Scottish Government intern project

Joy Lewis, chief executive of Adopt an Intern, said the response showed more firms should offer internships. Picture: Joey Kelly

Adopt an Intern (AAI), which runs the six-month programme, was surprised by the number of applicants and was able to double the available positions when a further ten departments joined the initiative.

Angela Constance, the minister for youth employment, has expressed her support and is considering whether to make it a regular programme.

Joy Lewis, chief executive of AAI, said she was delighted with the response.

She said that this was a particularly exciting time to be working for the Scottish Government and the level  of interest showed that there was no shortage of young people keen to take advantage of the opportunities available.

“This large number of high-quality graduates also shows us there is a great need for more companies of all sizes – from start-ups through to large corporates – to get involved in some way with what AAI is trying to achieve: short-term, meaningful, paid internships,” she said.

“We make it as simple and as painless as possible, doing all the work for the host. We’d love employers to get in touch and find out how they can benefit from our projects.”

AAI, a not-for-profit organisation that emerged in 2010 from the Centre for Scottish Public Policy think-tank, has set a target of 500 internships by the end of December.

“We’re very hopeful and, with a strong December, we’ll do it,” said Lewis.