Given practical skills are required to successfully deliver S&C coaching, there is an expectation that applicants for professional jobs possess and appropriate level of experience. An internship is a method of gaining career-specific experience by carrying out key roles associated with the profession, under the guidance of an appropriately qualified and experienced practitioner and mentor. 

From the employer’s point of view, an internship position may provide cover where there is a skill shortage within an organisation. It’s a great opportunity to build future talent and have extended access to a potential candidate and employees may get the chance to manage/mentor to develop their own skills. When adequately trained and managed correctly, an intern provides valuable work for the organisation.

An internship should be a two way mutually beneficial relationship. The UKSCA cannot police the internship process but we do aim to:

1.  Accomplish better working practices for early career coaches in employment and internships
2.  Support employers in managing the development of coaches and interns
3.  Support higher education (HE) in building valuable work experience and placements into their programmes. 

For the intern candidate, UKSCA research shows you can expect:

• To work 21-40 hours/week assisting in the coaching, evaluation and monitoring of athletes
• Many internships were full-time positions with formal obligations
• Not all internships are renumerated when they should be paid at least the national minimum wage assuming they are graduates. There is no law governing internships, and organisations can choose to offer unpaid programmes if they wish. Those who work unpaid are classified as ‘volunteers’ and so you should be aware that you are under no obligation to perform work and have no contract of employment if this is the case.
• Mentors are not always conducting individual development plans, formal meetings and appraisals and they should be
• The conversion rate from intern to employee at the corresponding organisation was reported to be 44%
• The majority of participants reported their placement provided them with the necessary skills and experience to gain employment within the field of S&C.