Taylor Bennett Foundation and Healthcare Communications Association launch new specialist programme to widen access to healthcare communications
London, UK – 16 February
The Taylor Bennett Foundation (TBF), the UK charity dedicated to increasing ethnic diversity in public relations and communications, and the Healthcare Communications Association (HCA) have today announced the launch of a new Healthcare Communications Training Programme.
The four-week, full-time, paid programme will run as a pilot from April 2026 and is now open for candidate applications. It is designed to support aspiring professionals from Black, Asian, and ethnically diverse professionals interested in healthcare communications – a sector that plays a vital role in shaping public understanding, patient trust, clinical excellence and health outcomes.
The pilot programme is being delivered with the support of six leading healthcare communications agencies: Virgo Health, Ignition Consulting; Mearns & Pike; Oxford PharmaGenesis; Resonant Group and Synergy Vision.
Together, TBF, HCA and the participating agencies aim to help build a more representative talent pipeline for the healthcare communications industry, ensuring that health communications and campaigns better reflect the communities and professionals they serve.
Structured around three core pillars – developing networks, gaining practical knowledge, and building employability skills – the programme will provide trainees with hands-on exposure to healthcare communications, alongside mentoring, masterclasses and practical project work. No prior communications or science background is required; instead, the programme focuses on potential, curiosity and interest in healthcare and communications.
The Healthcare Communications Training Programme builds on TBF’s 17-year track record of delivering award-winning training initiatives, through which more than 1,400 professionals have launched careers in communications.
“At a time when divisions in society are widening, the need to build workplaces – and an industry – where everyone can belong has never been clearer. Our work has never felt more urgent. I am immensely proud of what our community of colleagues, alumni, partners, and trustees has achieved.” said Koray Camgöz, CEO of the Taylor Bennett Foundation.
“The life sciences sector is a critical industry for the UK economy and also one which is incredibly personal, touching all our lives and communities, so it’s absolutely vital that health communicators are as diverse as the stakeholders they need to engage. This is especially important when we consider the breadth of experiences, backgrounds and beliefs patients and healthcare professionals bring. And it’s wonderful to partner with the Healthcare Communications Association and be able to bring together their expertise in health comms and our heritage in inclusion.” – said Avril Lee, Chair at the Taylor Bennett Foundation, and a healthcare communications consultant.
Mike Dixon, CEO, Healthcare Communications Association added: “We are delighted to be working with the Taylor Bennet Foundation on this programme. TBF shares our values and has been so instrumental in providing practical support to help bring more ethnically diverse young professionals into the communications sector.”
He continued: “Healthcare Communications is an amazing sector to be part of, making a real difference to how people hear about, understand and are able to access healthcare. It is important that we remain a diverse sector to best support the diverse communities and professionals with whom we communicate. We look forward to welcoming this programme’s candidates, so they can experience for themselves the opportunities and career satisfaction our sector has to offer.”
Applications are now open to Black, Asian, and ethnically diverse candidates aged 18+ who have the right to work in the UK and are interested in exploring a career in healthcare communications. The programme is full-time and in-person, running Monday to Friday. For more information and to apply, visit the website.
Notes to editors
About the Taylor Bennett Foundation
The Taylor Bennett Foundation is an award-winning UK-based charity that inspires young people from Black, Asian and ethnic minority backgrounds to pursue careers in PR and communications. It offers fully-paid training, mentoring and internship programmes in partnership with leading consultancies and FTSE 100 companies, and works with employers to build more inclusive workplace cultures. Since 2008, the Foundation has supported more than 1,400 young people.
About the Healthcare Communications Association
The Healthcare Communications Association is a not-for-profit professional association, with membership comprising in-house teams, agencies, third sector and individuals working in national and global healthcare communications across diverse business sectors.
Our mission is to proactively represent and support those involved in global, regional and national healthcare communications by:
1. Driving best practice and quality standards
2. Providing education and professional development support
3. Offering networking and mentoring opportunities
4. Co-ordinating business intelligence opportunities and sharing knowledge