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Department for Energy Security and Net Zero: Unpaid Work

Asked by Charlie DewhirstConservativeDepartment for Energy Security and Net ZeroTabled Answered 8 September 2026UIN 23959

The question

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, whether any internship schemes managed by (a) her Department and (b) each of its Arm’s Length Bodies are restricted to applicants on the basis of (i) ethnicity, (ii) social class and (iii) both.

Answered by Department for Energy Security and Net Zero

The Department does not manage any internship schemes that are restricted by ethnicity, socio-economic background, or a combination of both. The Department also does not hold information on internship schemes managed by its Arm’s Length Bodies (ALBs).

Additional information: The Department does utilise two internship programmes that include socio-economic eligibility criteria:

  • The Summer Internship Programme, which is managed by the Cabinet Office.
  • The upReach Internship Programme, which is managed by the external organisation upReach.

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