Moves to ban the use of ‘exploitative’ unpaid internships have come a step closer after a Government announcement on Thursday.

Ministers launched a call for evidence into the practice, saying it formed part of its plans for the biggest upgrade in workers’ rights in a generation.

The Government said internships offered young people invaluable experience as they build their careers, but added that when they were unpaid or paid below the national minimum wage, they created barriers to equal opportunity based on where people live, how old they are, or their social background.

Unpaid internships are already largely banned under current law, when they are not part of an educational or training course, but ministers said they wanted to strengthen protections by gathering more evidence on how unpaid internships affect young people, and how businesses use them to assess candidates.