M+C Saatchi Welcomes Summer 2026 Intern Cohort

Marcus Peffers, chair, M+C Saatchi Group UK and World Services, with the intern cohort

Image: Neil Spence Photography

​M+C Saatchi Group UK has welcomed its Summer 2026 cohort of interns to 36 Golden Square as part of its Open House programme, the long-running initiative designed to open up careers in communications to people who lack the support, connections or access traditionally needed to enter the industry.

Now in its sixth year, Open House is a free seven-week online programme open to anyone aged 16 and over, regardless of background or experience. Through weekly webinars led by M+C Saatchi experts from across its regions and specialisms, participants gain insight into the communications industry, work on a live brief, earn a CPD-accredited certificate and have the opportunity to apply for roles within the business.

Since launching in 2020, the programme has reached more than 16,200 people across 101 countries, issued almost 6,000 certificates and resulted in 81 hires, including 28 internships and five apprenticeships. Equal Opportunities monitoring data shows participants include people from a broad range of backgrounds, with 40% identifying as being from under-represented ethnic groups, 23% from the LGBTQ+ community, 15% identifying as disabled and 33% from lower-income households.

Open House is designed to remove barriers to entry by making participation free and fully online. Anyone with an internet connection can take part, making it one of the few industry initiatives open without application requirements or existing industry networks.

The programme comes at a time of growing concern around youth employment and the future talent pipeline for the communications industry. Industry data cited by M+C Saatchi shows the number of agency employees under the age of 25 has fallen by 19.2%, while fewer than half of agencies recruited graduates or apprentices last year. At the same time, the number of 16 to 24-year-olds not in employment, education or training has surpassed one million in the UK.

Open House participants are already demonstrating tangible career outcomes. One year after completing the programme, 35% had secured a role in the industry, with 81% of those saying Open House had helped them get there. Participants reported greater confidence applying for roles, stronger understanding of career opportunities across the industry and improved interview performance.

Former participants have gone on to roles across agencies, brands and media organisations including BBH, Disney+, DEPT®, Havas Media Greece, Pablo London, Tag, Reckitt Benckiser and WPP agencies.

Alongside Open House, M+C Saatchi continues to invest in entry-level talent through its partnership with the University of Greenwich, where it co-designed the Creative Advertising BA (Hons) degree and delivers teaching, mentoring and paid placements for students. The agency also runs the World Services Summer Internship, now in its fourth year, providing paid six-week placements for people looking to build careers in communications focused on global development and behaviour change.

​Marcus Peffers, chair, M+C Saatchi Group UK and World Services, said, "Open House was created around a simple belief: talent is everywhere, but opportunity isn't. At a time when too many talented people are being locked out of our industry because they lack the right connections or access, we're committed to opening our doors wider, not closing them.

"Welcoming this year's cohort to Golden Square is always one of the highlights of our year. Every person joining us brings a fresh perspective, new ideas and enormous potential. Investing in entry-level talent isn't just the right thing to do, it's essential if we want to build a more creative, representative and resilient industry for the future."

Mark Dickinson-Keen, global chief people and operations officer at M&C Saatchi Group, added, "Open House exists because one of the biggest challenges facing our industry is how we develop the next generation of talent. Hybrid working has changed the way people learn their craft, AI is automating many entry-level tasks, education is struggling to keep pace with employer needs and economic pressures are driving up youth unemployment.

"We all have an opportunity to decide how we respond to those challenges. For us, it means staying committed to our investment in those seeking to get into our industry through our Open House programme, and for those who go on to join M+C Saatchi, creating structured opportunities for them to learn, contribute and grow. AI should help unlock the unique contributions that emerging talent brings, not replace the very opportunities that allow future industry leaders to develop."

To register your interest in Open House, visit here.