Here at Floreana, we don’t believe in unpaid internships. Here are a few brief thoughts on why.
People are the most valuable asset of any business, ours included. They are the heart & soul of a company and we value ours very highly. Asking people to work for free isn’t putting much, if any, value on their contribution. Not only that, it undermines their colleagues’ contributions & can be demoralising and exploitative too. And that just isn’t our ethos at all.
We’re committed to everyone in the communities in which we live & work. We never discriminate on age, gender, race, marital status, pregnancy/maternity, disability, sexual orientation, religious beliefs or otherwise. Neither do we discriminate based on wealth. To do so is not just ethically wrong, it restricts social mobility, increases social inequality and limits fair access to employment opportunities.
We prefer to judge on values, ability, potential, personality & achievements.
On a practical note, limiting our talent pool to those with means to self-fund would mean we also miss out on some fantastically dedicated, creative, innovative people. Which would just be plain daft.
If people feel the need to donate their time & energies for free, then we’re not against altruism. We feel that this is best served however, by genuine volunteering where the desire to help out, rather than the need for experience/development is the driving force. Indeed, we ourselves help out with local park clear-ups, litter-picks & planting when we can. There are many, many great charities and community organisations in your local area eager for your help. Volunteer Edinburgh can help if you don’t already have a good cause in mind.
When there is a business need and funding available, we will create relevant entry-level positions, apprenticeships or paid internships. They will be advertised as widely as possible to ensure fair access for everyone. They will be paid at least the current recognised living wage.
Finally, here’s a quick reminder of our core values.
Ethical: Be morally good. Avoid activities that harm people & the environment.
Interesting: Arouse attention, curiosity & enthusiasm. Encourage people to learn & know more.
Original: Use imagination, be novel, generate ideas. Pioneer.
Caring: Care about others. Care about what you do.
These are our values. We follow them. We expect our suppliers to follow them. We hope you do too.
Floreana Ltd 