Step Up internship

Closing date for applications: 26th January 2026

Salary: London Living Wage

Kickstart your media career with these paid eight-week placements, gaining hands-on experience and insights across journalism, publishing, PR and marketing with top UK travel organisations.

The Travel Media Awards recognises the importance of cultivating and uplifting people from different backgrounds to strengthen the industry by better reflecting the diversity within the UK. To address this, Step Up was launched in 2023 to drive diversity and inclusion in travel media for young people.

Now in its third year, there are 10 leading travel organisations offering eight weeks of placements to successful candidates. The complete list of partners for 2026 are:

• Journalism partners: APL Media, Ink Global, Metro, The Sun and TTG Media
• PR partners: easyJet holidays, FINN Partners, Intrepid Travel, Kuoni and Virgin Atlantic

Please note, most placements are London-based, with three taking place outside of the capital. Virgin Atlantic is in Crawley, easyJet holidays is in Luton and Kuoni is in Dorking. Please check the TMA Step Up website to confirm the exact working locations of each partner company.

Interns will be paid London Living Wage for the eight weeks of work placements.


Benefits of the scheme

Travel Media Awards Step Up interns also have the opportunity to receive a further six months of mentoring. Winners are also invited to the Travel Media Awards 2026, to continue their travel media journey, be that consumer, trade or PR.

Eligibility

To be eligible for this opportunity you will be:

• Aged 18-30
• A UK resident (or have the right to work in the UK)
• Can demonstrate a passion for travel media.

The Travel Media Awards Step Up programme is for individuals from underrepresented backgrounds, including people of colour, people with disabilities and those from lower socioeconomic backgrounds.


Any questions

Please read our FAQs to find out if we have already answered your question. Otherwise, please email stepup@travelmediaawards.com. Thank you!

We encourage applications from people of colour, disabled people and individuals from lower socioeconomic backgrounds.

Please state in your application that you found this role through Creative Access.