To be eligible to take part in the Music Matters programme, employers must provide interns on a full-time (typically 35 hours) contract for a duration of 6 months. 

Interns must receive appropriate employment rights and benefits, including National Minimum Wage or National Living Wage, holiday pay, national insurance contributions, and pension auto-enrolment as applicable.

Music Matters will support with recruitment but it is the responsibility of the business to:

• Advertise the internship position widely and transparently, using platforms such as JobApplyNI.com and the organisation's own channels.
• Ensure the recruitment process is fair, inclusive, and based on merit, ensuring equal opportunities for all candidates.
• Follow best practices in recruitment and selection

• The business operates within the music industry, such as artist management / development, music production, event management / promotion, music marketing, or related fields that can provide an important skill.
• Businesses must demonstrate the capacity to provide a meaningful work experience for an intern, including a defined role and job title.

If you have any queries or concerns about your businesses eligibility, please reach out to Nikki MacRae at macraen@belfastcity.gov.uk

Businesses who are selected to take part in the Music Matters programme will be responsible for paying the interns wages, offering at least the National Minimum Wage or preferably the National Living Wage.

As part of the programme, there is financial assistance of £5000 available for employers.  Businesses must use the funds specifically for the intern’s salary and associated employment costs.

This will be distributed in % increments over the 6 months dependant on the successful completion of each stage:

Stage 1 (20%): The intern has been appointed and the employment contract has been signed by both parties. Evidence of this must be supplied to the Music Matters representative.

Stage 2 (40%): A halfway check-in meeting with a Music Matters representative and a survey has been completed by both employer and intern (month 3). 

Stage 3 (40%): A final meeting with a Music Matters representative and a survey has been completed by both employer and intern (month 6).