Looking for an ad agency internship in London?
(updated October, 2026)
I first wrote this blog back in 2024, based on my daughter’s search for an internship in an ad agency (which she got and which became a permanent role). Here’s an updated version for 2026, though it’s best to keep checking ad agency websites, Instagram and LinkedIn yourself …
She’d found the process of looking for an internship slightly frustrating process as a) not many London ad agencies run them these days and b) there’s no one place to find a handy list – until now, that is.
I’ve spotted a new internship for this year, run by a brilliant creative agency – Lucky Generals. The Lucky Way a 4-month paid internship covering creative, strategy, production, and account management with London Living Wage compensation and travel card support.However I can’t offer any insights into the interview process. If you can, or can share your experiences or hear of new internships, please drop me a line at caroline@carolinegibson.co.uk so I can update this post:
First, a few handy things to know:
- You don’t have to be a graduate
- You don’t have to be 21/22 or looking for your first job
- None of the advertising internships below asked for a CV
- Most intel here about each agency’s requirements/process is based on what happened in 2024 and for London ad internships only
VCCP
The Table is VCCP’s paid entry-level scheme at the London office which runs for a year. It’s open to anyone from anywhere with roles available in account management, creative production, digital, media, new business, planning, social & influence, AI, PR and now customer engagement/data as well.
When to apply?
Applications are open. (In 2024, they closed mid-November with interviews in early December and the start date in August.)
What’s needed?
Applicants were asked to explain why they wanted a seat at The Table and answer a few questions such as “Write about something you’re proud of”.
What happened next?
Those shortlisted were invited to an assessment day in which they were given a brief and had to then work in groups and give a presentation, followed by individual interviews.
Other options?
VCCP organises Ad School for anyone aged 18-25 interested in advertising. It’s an intensive 5-day work experience in early July, with talks from ad experts and the chance to work on a pitch with a real brief.
Applications for 2024 opened in early March and required a video. Those called to The Table’s assessment day were also invited to apply.
VCCP also runs The Den: a 3-month contract for creative teams with the chance to work on the same briefs and have the same opportunities as all the other creative department teams. To apply, send your portfolio to theden@vccp.com
M&C Saatchi
M&C Saatchi Open House isn’t an ad internship but it is a free online training programme that replaced their entry level programmes and is open to anyone age 16+, anywhere in the world.
What’s the deal?
Open House runs for eight weeks (on Zoom from 6pm to 7pm UK time) every Wednesday from early September. There are leading speakers from the agency (on topics ranging from brand innovation to choosing the right comms channel to how to get a job in advertising). A coursework brief is set every other week (ranging from creative to PR tasks) with chosen entries shown.
If you can’t make the meeting online, catch up with recorded webinars and presentations.
If you complete the programme, you can then apply for M&C Saatchi’s Open House Assessment Day with the potential to join the talent pool for future opportunities across the group such as apprenticeships, placements and permanent jobs in account handling, creative, media, new business, data, design, PR and strategy.
When to apply?
Applications for Open House 2026 opened 19 January and closed 28 February. To register your interest for future programmes email openhouse@mcsaatchi.com.
(In 2024, Assessment Day applications ran 27 October – 5 November with successful applicants invited along in late November.)
Bonus tip from Offspring #2: Open House attracts an older audience, often who are already in ad and design agency jobs.
St Luke’s
The Gateway is St Luke’s 3-month paid internship in account management.
When to apply?
Keep an eye out for details on their site and on LinkedIn for 2025 advertising internships. (In 2024, applications closed 17 February. In 2026, they still have the page up for 2025 internships, which is somewhat remiss of them.)
What’s needed?
The application process involved answering questions online anonymously, some of which were lateral/creative. For example, “What would you do with £200 to make yourself more interesting?”, “How do you think people will discover brands in 2025?” and “You’ve been asked to find 10kg of sand to decorate the office – what do you do?”.
What happened next?
Selected applicants were interviewed on Zoom, with four people shortlisted for an interview at the agency in mid-March with questions about themselves and about the agency’s work.
This year, the successful candidate was notified mid-April. The placement was due to start in May but was then pushed back to July.
Bonus tip from Offspring #2: in 2024, the internship was changed right at the end to a 50% internship:50% front-of-house role.
Other options?
Flying Start is St Luke’s 9-week paid programme from July to September for members of underrepresented racial groups keen to break into advertising. It provides a taste of what it’s like to work in account management, strategy, creative and production, with the possibility of being accepted onto The Gateway Internship Programme or at a network agency or production company. Again rather remiss of them, the page says to check in Jan for the 2026 intake. (Please, someone email flyingstart@stlukes.co.uk and tell them to update their info!)
Grey
Grey Matter is a 3-month internship programme – posted on the IPA (The Institute of Practitioners in Advertising) site – in Grey London’s account leadership, new business, production, strategy and project management departments in London. It’s open to absolutely everyone.
When to apply?
For 2024, applications were required by 22 March. The scheme ran in 2025 but nothing has been posted for 2026.
What was needed?
Candidates had to answer questions online anonymously, some of which were lateral. These included writing about a brand that’s broken the mould creatively, discussing a recent cultural trend and defending something or someone that’s misunderstood with an explanation as to why.
What happened next?
Prospective interns heard back in April: out of 250 applicants, 25 were invited to an Insight Day in May which consisted of group tasks and an interview.
Those selected were phoned a few days later with a start date in late July.
Bonus tip from Offspring #2: The agency was happy to consider interns whether looking for a job or for work experience over the summer.
Adam&Eve\TBWA
First Bite is an internship placement scheme. In 2024, when the agency was Adam&EveDDB, it lasted three to six months with one role available per department in account management, planning, creative, project management and their production agency.
As the name implies, the intention is to “help anyone with talent get their first bite at the advertising industry”.
When to apply?
For 2024, applications were required by 21 April. In 2025, they offered up to 5 places for 2 weeks’ work experience shadowing an account team. This was posted on Insta.
What’s needed?
adam&eve gave presentations at an agency Discovery evening in March with insight into life and work at 12 Bishop’s Bridge Road, and info about future open roles and their First Bite placement programme.
For the application process, questions – judged anonymously – included citing a favourite ad campaign, giving an example of a challenge faced and explaining which CEO of a famous brand you’d most like to be.
What happened next?
Shortlisted candidates were notified in late May and invited to give a 10-minute presentation at the agency in early July, choosing from one of five briefs – either as slides or another creative format.
The task required the prospective ad interns to identify the brief’s challenge, target audience, core message and how to convey this with a creative campaign. Briefs ranged from inspiring a younger generation to connect with the Paralympics to encouraging consumers to take up carpooling.
Responses were reviewed according to how insightful, engaging and original the campaign was.
Applicants were contacted about outcomes in late July which was a few weeks later than originally promised.
Mother
The Crew is a talent scheme at Mother that used to be known as the Runners. You’re essentially managing office rooms and tasks while getting a feel for what every department does – described by one runner there as “a perfect bridge between uni and work” (though you don’t need to be a graduate).
The programme includes weekly training sessions covering topics on how to forge client relationships, manage advertising budgets and understand client briefs.
In 2026, Mother posted on LinkedIn saying that applications for your first job in the creative industry were now open. Keep an eye on there. Meanwhile, here’s what happened in previous years …
What happens?
Applicants spend 15 months as a part of the Crew, then choose a 6-month fixed term placement in their preferred department. A job afterwards isn’t guaranteed but seems a safe bet.
When to apply?
Four new Crew members were required to join between February and May in 2024. The ad was posted 18 December 2023 and applications closed 14 January 2024. No sign of any for 2026.
Bonus tip from Offspring #2: Mother offered week-long work experience placements summer 2023 but not sure if they still run these.
BBH
BBH (Bartle Bogle Hegarty) in London used to offer Homegrown, a 4-month paid placement from March to June in their production, strategy and/or account management departments with ongoing mentoring afterwards. As with the other advertising internships covered here, no experience or skills needed.
The programme wasn’t run in 2024, but a different opportunity was offered instead as well as in 2025. No sign of anything for 2026 yet.
What’s the deal?
BBH describe Barn as “an ad school in an agency”. In 2024, the interviews were in July with the course starting in September. It takes place for a year and the lucky ones accepted earn while they learn on a salary of £28k.
Creative application questions have included “What French town would you be twinned with and why?” and “Explain the benefits of having a slug as a pet”, with candidates encouraged to reply with simple ideas using any medium and be silly or serious.
You just need to be 18+ to apply – and not at an ad college.
D&AD
The Shift is a free industry-led night school over five months for self-taught creatives without a traditional education who want to get into advertising and design. It’s run by the highly brilliant D&AD and highly informative (Design & Art Direction), whose members represent the creative, design and advertising communities all over the planet.
What’s the deal?
Taught in London and five other cities including New York, Berlin and Sydney, this fantastic D&AD programme includes live client briefs, training, peer-to-peer learning, pastoral support and industry mentoring and, on average, 72% of Shifters going on to creative jobs and placements after finishing.
Looking for a marketing internship?
A quick aside … getting an advertising internship is quite a different process to getting an internship in marketing or onto a grad scheme. Leading companies such as Diageo, WarnerBros, P&G, Condé Nast and LVMH all require CVs and usually a recorded video for starters.
Bonus tip from Offspring #2: P&G set VERY hard maths questions.
Keep those eyes firmly peeled
What’s available at an ad agency internship-wise changes from year to year. Keep checking ad agency websites, Insta and LinkedIn – it’s a much better bet than looking on Indeed or Student Ladder.
Do the internships ever lead to actual jobs? Yes, it did for my daughter.
Written by Caroline Gibson, experienced London freelance copywriter and proud mother of a shiny new advertising account exec.
E: caroline@carolinegibson.co.uk T: +44 (0) 7957 567766