PR Internship for BME Graduates
I was delighted to receive an email this week that brought my attention to the Northern Lights PR internship in conjunction with the Taylor Bennett Foundation. The four-week programme from 4 July 2011 is open to black and minority ethnic graduates, a group that is recognised as being under-represented in the PR industry.
As an industry, I feel more needs to be done to increase the number of applicants from a wider and more diverse range of backgrounds and hopefully this internship can make more than a small difference to a big problem. From speaking to BME students and graduates I know there are talented people out there who simply cannot afford to take unpaid internships and anything which seeks to redress the balance is to be applauded.
The training programme seeks to empower bright graduates from universities around the country to launch their careers in PR. Since its launch, 23 graduates have benefitted from the training in London (in partnership with the University of East London and Brunswick Group) and a further six have graduated from the programme in Yorkshire (delivered by Northern Lights, in partnership with the Bradford University School of Management).
To be eligible to apply, you must:
- Have a genuine interest in a career in PR and communications
- Be about to graduate or have graduated in the last three years
- Be available to take part in an assessment centre test on 1 June 2011
- Be able to give full time (9am-5.30pm) commitment during the whole programme
- Have the right to work indefinitely in the UK (although the programme does not guarantee employment, it is intended to prepare graduates to work in PR in the UK)
As someone who is passionate about increasing diversity within the PR industry I must say this sounds like a fantastic opportunity to take your first steps in the industry and it’s encouraging to see the industry trying to proactively tackle the issue of BME under-representation. On a personal note I must say that it’s great to work at an agency that is leading the way in conjunction with academics to try to address the issue, but more still needs to be done.
You can click here to find out more information on the BME internship or Taylor Bennett Foundation.
Ben I am delighted that you are so enthusiastic about our programme. We are currently running the spring programme in London in association with Talk PR. Previous internships have been very successful, with our alumni going on to work in comms roles in companies which include Brunswick, Cantos, Edelman, Macbeth Media Relations, Racepoint Group, Cision PR, and Talk PR – so we really are changing the face of the industry.
I am currently looking for mentors for ex-interns. If anyone would like to volunteer please do get in touch. It will take an hour or so each month for you to offer career advice and guidance to our graduates who are all keen to make their way in the world of communications.
Hi Sarah,
The Taylor Bennett Foundation internship is an absolutely fantastic scheme and if there is anything I can do to promote the good work that you guys do, either via my blog or social networks, do let me know.
Thanks,
Ben