Frequently Asked Questions

What would be the shortest and the longest stay for an intern joining your company?

We accept interns from 4 months up to 1 year, but candidates who can work for a longer period get a preference in selection, due to the fact they will receive more training.

Which steps should I follow to apply for an internship?

Carefully read all our internship opportunities on our website www.eternityclothing.co.uk and find out which field of work or activity suits best to your interests and your future career ambitions. Send an e-mail including your CV and a cover letter to careers@eternityclothing.co.uk. After receiving your reply to our e-mail questionnaire, our internship team will consider your application and contact you via e-mail or telephone.

Do I need any special certificates to apply for an internship?

No specific certificates are required for an internship application. Most certificate documents are written in your mother tongue, and it is therefore difficult for us to check their authenticity. Your CV will give us a basic idea about you. Solely based on this, we then invite applicants for more information and a telephone interview.

Is this a paid internship?

You will not get paid during your stay as an intern. However the company spends a grand amount of time and money in training their interns. You will receive excellent and unique training programs given by professional companies.

What are my working hours?

Your working hours will be from 9.00 am to 5pm Monday to Thursday & Friday 8am to 3pm.

Do you provide accommodation?

Regarding the accommodation, we will be able to arrange accommodation with another intern in a shared flat in a brand new building, 10 minutes walk from our office and the city centre. The cost would be around £500 a month. In July and August prices might be 20% lower due to summer. If this is too expensive you can always contact our internship team and they will help you find a more affordable accommodation.

How can I manage to pay for my stay if this is an unpaid internship?

There are a lot of companies that can help you financially (e.g. by means of a grant like ERASMUS, LEONARDO, TEMPUS, etc.) during your stay in the U.K. To view for which grant you can apply, go to http://ec.europa.eu/ploteus, section Exchange & Grants or enquire with your university.

Do I need special qualifications for doing an internship?

We highly appreciate prior experience or education in the field you are applying and good conversational language skills. Of course, we will also provide training and mentoring continuously during your internship, so don't worry, you do not need to be specialized in any field.

Do I need to speak fluent English?

As you will work and live for several months in an English spoken country, you should have a sufficient English level to communicate with your colleagues, customers and of course outside of the office. Therefore, the telephone interview is also an opportunity for us to assess your level of spoken English and decide if it is acceptable for the company's activity. Nevertheless you can expect your English language skills to improve tremendously during your stay, thanks to a daily use of spoken and written English. Other languages, including your native language, are a benefit as you may be working on an international marketing project in the country of your native language.

Is it better to open a bank account while working as an intern or just to withdraw money from my home bank account?

For most interns opening a bank account in England is not considered as necessary. But if you stay longer than 6 months it is advisable to open an account. Furthermore there are some activity establishments (like a gym) that require an English account. This is a subject that has to be dealt with very quickly so inform your bank and ask their advice on this as soon as possible.

Do I need an international student ID card and where do I get one?

You could benefit on having an ISIC card as it helps you to get significant discounts at sights, cinemas, internet contracts, gym etc. Your University can provide you with more information on how to get an ISIC. In most cases however a confirmation of you being an international student, for example a letter signed by your university, is enough to get the discount.

Do I really need a passport?

If you are a EU citizen, you can travel to the U.K. with your ID card only, but it is recommended to have your passport with you. If you are traveling from any other country you need a valid passport.

Do I need a work permit?

Citizens from the EU do not need a work permit. If you are a non-European citizen you are nevertheless welcome to join us! However we are unable to provide work permits for our interns, you will need a valid UK work permit to work full time (40 hours per week). (We reserve the right to receive a copy if your work permit before we can process your application).

What facilities are provided during my internship?

You will be provided with your own computer (during office hours), free Tea, Coffee. We will help you find accommodation cost effective and clean in Manchester that you will have to pay for yourself (the price of accommodation depends on the length of your stay, please feel free to contact us for more details).

How many people are working in your office?

Our office is constantly developing! We now have 18 people working in our Manchester office. The number of interns can change depending on the season and current projects. The company has a flat management structure which means the interns are in a unique position to be involved in the decision making processes along side the Directors and mangers of the organization. This gives the interns the ability to see all parts of the decision making process and to quickly learn and understand and learn important management information and at all levels. The company gives great importance to clear communication, accuracy and time-management within the organization. This differs greatly to a learning experience in a larger organization where an intern is compartmentalized in one dept or area and cannot “see the bigger picture”.

Why do we offer Internships?

In today’s competitive markets, no company can be considered to be mediocre. In order for a company to survive it must be good at what it does. In order to be the best or better than the rest a company must continually adapt to the external environment and market forces. These pressures have been the catalyst for our company to identify and develop a competency framework to improve individuals and the organization itself

How will I benefit? Do I get a certificate after my internship?

The learning culture within the company is underpinned by a formal appraisal system which, based on the competency frame work of the company to help you develop and grow and at the same time contribute to the company’s development. Much of the innovation strategy, new processes and concepts comes from the interns of the organization. Please see the testimonials from previous interns. EC Contracts puts emphasis on HR Development and continuous HR and organizational improvement through formal training courses and informal experiential learning via mentoring and coaching within the workplace. You will receive a certificate and a detailed appraisal report once your internship comes to an end. If you achieve an outstanding performance Management will also consider giving you a letter of recommendation and possibly a job offer. We use internships to seek the best candidates for full time employment, and candidates with excellent abilities after their internship will be offered a full time position.

I have to present a project for my university at the end of/during my internship, is it possible to work on school projects?

Every department works on various projects, so you will be assigned tasks related to your skills. If you make us aware of any potential school project in advance, we will try and tailor your work to be in line with your project, however, sometimes this may not be possible.

What kind of city is Manchester?

Manchester has the largest student population in the UK. Next to this Manchester has been voted Business City of 2006. Business is booming in Manchester. It is a vibrant young multi-cultural city. Manchester offers thousands of opportunities to spend and enjoy your spare time. There are muse, clubs, restaurants, pubs, enormous shopping centre, cinemas, gyms etc. You will not miss a thing in this city. In addition to that it has it’s own rail network; only 2 hours from London by train. You can take a ride on the Northern Railway and enjoy the beautiful scenery of Northern England including the Peak and Lake district parks. Manchester airport is an international hub. Prices in Manchester are cost effective for eating and living, compared with London prices are 25 to 35% cheaper.