The best companies offering internships in 2026

What is an internship?

An internship is a short-term work placement that allows students or early-career professionals to gain practical experience in a specific industry or role. Internships can be paid or unpaid and are designed to help people build skills, confidence, and real-world experience alongside their studies or at the start of their career.

How are internships different from other early careers opportunities?

An internship is different from a graduate scheme or an apprenticeship in a few ways, including:

• Internships are short-term, often from a few weeks to a year, and give a taster of an industry, helping you build experience and strengthen your CV
• They’re usually aimed at current students or recent graduates
• It varies by employer, but internships are generally less structured than graduate schemes or apprenticeships
• Unlike graduate schemes and apprenticeships, internships don't usually have a pathway to a permanent job

Which companies offer internships?

Accenture UK is a leading global professional services company that specialises in IT services, management consulting, AI adoption, cloud transformation, and digital reinvention for enterprises worldwide. Accenture UK offers internships to undergraduate students in their penultimate year at university, to help you build skills and launch your career. You can find more details about Accenture UK internships here.

Airbus is an international pioneer in the aerospace industry and a leader in designing, manufacturing and delivering aerospace products, services and solutions to customers on a global scale. 91% of employees think Airbus is a good fit for people early on in their careers, and they support over 3,000 interns every year across more than 14 disciplines. You can find out more about Airbus internships on their website and see current opportunities on Flexa.

Amplifi is a full service data and AI consultancy with collective expertise across multiple data disciplines in both North America and EMEA. 88% of employees think Amplifi is a good fit for people early on in their careers, and they say they have internship opportunities. Check their website for details.

Admiral is an award-winning employer and financial services company. Admiral offers internships ranging from one to three months, or longer, to give you valuable experience across different departments. They're available throughout the year, and you can get more details on their website.

Atom Bank was founded in 2014 as the UK’s first app-based bank, and was the country’s first digital-only bank to be granted a regulatory licence. They offer summer internships for students, so you can immerse yourself in one of their departments and get valuable insight into a career in banking while developing key skills. Their website has more details.

BD is one of the world’s largest pure-play medical technology companies with a Purpose of advancing the world of health™ by driving innovation across medical essentials, connected care, biopharma systems and interventional. They offer summer internships in the U.S. for students, helping you to kick off your career by joining a vibrant network that offers professional development and peer connections. You can see more details on their website and browse current opportunities on Flexa.

Centrica is so much more than an energy company; it's a family of brands, revolutionising how we power the planet. 81% of employees think Centrica is a good fit for people early on in their careers, and they have a summer internship programme for undergraduates who want more than just work experience. During the internship, you'll take on meaningful projects, gain real responsibility from day one, and be supported every step of the way by a network of experienced professionals. Find out more on their website and see current opportunities on Flexa.

EY UK's purpose is to build a better working world. Through the insights and services they provide, EY helps create long-term value for people and society while building trust and confidence in the capital markets. 85% of employees think EY UK is a good fit for people early on in their careers. They offer a range of internships, including an Assurance Summer Internship, a Consulting Summer Internship, and a Tax Summer Internship. Take a look at their range of undergraduate opportunities on their website and see open roles on Flexa.

HEINEKEN UK is the UK's leading beer, cider and pub business. It offers internships at its Supply Chain, and across a range of locations, for students. You can see current opportunities on their early careers page.

MBDA is a leading company in the defence industry. They deliver essential military capabilities for each branch of the Armed Forces - with specific expertise in missiles and missile systems. 84% of employees think MBDA is a good fit for people early on in their careers. They offer 10-week paid summer placements in business, engineering, software and manufacturing to university students — and applications are open for their 2027 programme. Head to their website for more details, or see the live opportunities on Flexa.

For over 50 years, Mars France has established itself as a leading food and beverage company and generates over €2.5 billion in revenue in France. They offer six-month internships to students who have a desire to learn and grow and want to launch their career. You can find out more about Mars France internships on their website.

Mondelēz International is a multinational confectionery, food and beverage company that has been making treats in the UK for nearly 200 years. They offer internships around the world, across disciplines ranging from marketing to logistics, manufacturing, engineering, finance, and beyond. You can search for internships on their website — and on Flexa.

Mott MacDonald is a leading engineering, management and development consultancy and one of the world’s largest employee-owned companies. 83% of employees think Mott MacDonald is a good fit for people early on in their careers. They offer internships in geotechnical engineering and have a Summer Placement Programme and an Industrial Placement Programme. You can learn more about their opportunities on their website or see live roles on Flexa.

NFU Mutual is a leading provider of General Insurance that also offers a variety of Financial Planning Services. 90% of employees think NFU Mutual is a good fit for people early on in their careers. They offer summer internships that help you gain first-hand experience working in the insurance industry over eight weeks. You can choose between finance, financial risk, group compliance, HR, HR project management, internal auditing, IT, marketing and digital, and sales. Take a look at the website for more information.

Pets at Home is the UK’s leading pet care group, bringing together Pets at Home, Pets Grooming, and Vets for Pets to deliver the best in pet care products, services, and advice. They offer placements to help you gain the knowledge, capabilities, and behaviours that you need at the earlier stages of your career. You can read more about early careers opportunities on their website.

SAP is a market leader in enterprise software that turns businesses into intelligent, sustainable enterprises. Their applications and services enable business and public customers across 25 industries to operate profitably and adapt continuously. They offer internships across a range of functions and regions, offering students an opportunity to grow skills that will serve you well in the future. You can get more detail about SAP internships on their website and find live roles on Flexa.

Tesco and Tesco Retail employ over 330,000 people across 11 markets and have recorded group sales of £62.8bn. They give their colleagues the tools to shape their own future with a career path that meets their own personal goals and aspirations. They offer 10-week paid internships for university students who want to get real-world experience, use their expertise, and learn on the job. Opportunities are available across retail, home and clothing, food buying, finance, marketing, technology, online, supply chain, product management, programme management and software engineering. You can learn more about Tesco internships on their website and find open roles on Flexa.

TUI Group is a leading global travel and leisure company, with 1,200 travel agencies, around 130 planes, over 400 hotels, 16 cruise liners, various digital platforms for leisure activities, and a team of over 60,000 talented colleagues worldwide. 92% of employees think TUI Group is a good fit for people early on in their careers. They offer internships that last at least four weeks in the summer. You can look for opportunities on their website or see live roles on Flexa.

United Utilities is providing great water for a stronger, greener and healthier North West. They offer paid internships that last eight weeks, three months, or 12 months, and their 2027 scheme is now open for applications. You can find out more on their website.

Virgin Media O2 is an award-winning fibre broadband provider and telecommunications company. They manage 47 million UK connections across broadband, mobile, TV and home phone and have around 18,000 colleagues, working hard to provide the very best connectivity to our valued customers. They offer internships that are designed to be 'year in industry' placements for students in their penultimate year. The paid 13-month placements are available in finance and technology, and you can read more on their website.

Vodafone is a leading international Telco serving 300 million customers. Their strong belief is that connectivity is a force for good. If we use it for the things that really matter, it can improve people's lives and the world around us. They offer internships to undergrad and post grad students who want to gain hands-on experience and explore career options. Read more on their website or see live opportunities on Flexa.