Simon Cowell's Syco company removes advert for 'keen as mustard' interns after criticism from campaign group

 
Simon Cowell: A spokesman for the star said he plans to make a statement in court about the claim
Rachel Blundy22 January 2014

Music mogul Simon Cowell's company Syco was left facing criticism today after it was revealed that a digital project partly run by Cowell's company had taken down a job advert calling for unpaid interns.

The advert, which reportedly called for "keen as mustard" applicants, was taken down from a Facebook page linked to Cowell's company Syco following criticism from campaign group Graduate Fog, according to Fog.

It apparently offered those who were successful in gaining an unpaid position on digital project You Generation, which is run in conjunction with Sony and YouTube, the chance to "gain experience on a fast turn around online channel".

It said: "We're based in central London and can pay expenses, with a lunch allowance.

"Great chance for people wanting to gain experience working on a fast turn around online channel.

"Feel free to share to anyone you think it might suit."

The news that the advert had been dropped was today reported on Buzzfeed and the story subsequently sparked anger on Twitter.

One person said: "Simon Cowell's company is looking for unpaid internships. I'm sorry, will paying interns cut into your budget...."

The Evening Standard's Rosamund Urwin also commented: ""Keen as mustard" and cheaper than chips".

A spokesman for Sony, which runs Syco with Cowell, told BuzzFeed that the advert for unpaid workers at You Generation was “a mistake” that was removed after four days and they would not be hiring any interns as a result of it. The company said it also offers a paid internship programme.

Cowell's show The X Factor has previously been investigated by HMRC over claims unpaid interns were employed as full-time fashion assistants on The X Factor.

It was not suggested that Cowell was aware of the issue, and it was reported at the time that Talkback Thames, the production company behind X Factor, said it was unaware of these interns, which were  assisting the show's stylist and “are not X Factor interns".

"Talkback Thames does not use free interns. We have a strict policy on all of our shows where we always pay people except when they are doing genuine, short-term work experience and are not actually performing any work or it's a formal school or college placement. Everyone else is paid. We were not aware that interns were being used by the stylist and we are looking into the matter," the production company told The Guardian.

Interns were later given thousands of pounds in compensation for their work, according to Graduate Fog.

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