Being a Self Employed Sole-Trader, can I hire an unpaid intern?

[Petexxx]

Hello all

Newbee here making my first post.

I became a self employed sole-trader back in May 2019. This may be a silly question but, as a sole-trader, can I hired an unpaid intern &, if I do, will I have to declare this to HMRC or any other body?

Thanks. Pete

[ladymuck]

This guide may help you

Employment rights and pay for interns - GOV.UK

You need to make sure that you have insurances in place as an employer.

[fullyautomatix]

Unpaid intern, hmmmm, is this an euphemism ? Why can't you pay him/her like a decent employer ? If your business model depends on "unpaid" interns, it's probably best to shut it since it's not viable.

[eek]

It's probably illegal unless you do things correctly.

and the odds of you doing things correctly are about zero

The law on unpaid internships: know your rights | TARGETjobs

[northernladuk]

Am sure the details will trickle through over the course of a week so changing the advice at every step along the way.

EDIT : FOG

[AtW]

Unpaid inters are totally illegal and immoral, unless they work for Honourable Members of Parliament

[Petexxx]

Hi

Thank you for your replies.

I'm not looking for an unpaid lacky or anything. My daughter is in Uni & I have been asked by a friend of hers if I could hire her as an unpaid intern for approx. 16 to 20 weeks for part of her 'placement year'. She did have somewhere else lined up but, when our area was put into Tier 4 (now national lockdown), they cancelled on her so now she has to find somewhere to complete her placement year.

The GOV.UK link given by ladymuck (thank you) states 'Students required to do an internship for less than one year as part of a UK-based further or higher education course are not entitled to the National Minimum Wage'.

What I would like to know is, as a sole-trader (registered with HMRC) & not a registered company, am I allowed to take her on to complete her placement &, apart from the H&S requirements (which would be carried out in full), do I need to declare this to any Gov or other body?

Thanks

Pete

[northernladuk]

Keep your business away from family and friends... HTH

[SueEllen]

What I would like to know is, as a sole-trader (registered with HMRC) & not a registered company, am I allowed to take her on to complete her placement &, apart from the H&S requirements (which would be carried out in full), do I need to declare this to any Gov or other body?

Any type of business can hire staff as pointed out you just need to make sure you have the right insurance(s).

Also if she is doing work for why aren't you paying her? All the companies and organisations I've worked and contacted at who have had interns have paid them something. She may start off as being useless but once you have trained her "properly" then she will be useful.

[Petexxx]

Also if she is doing work for why aren't you paying her? All the companies and organisations I've worked and contacted at who have had interns have paid them something. She may start off as being useless but once you have trained her "properly" then she will be useful.

I am not a company, I am a one man band who buys at auctions & sells on ebay. I make enough to pay my bills & that is about it.

I have been asked as a favour if I can help this girl out as her placement fell through due to Covid. Why does everyone think I'm trying to get free labour?