London, 8th October 2026: The Taylor Bennett Foundation has opened applications for employers and candidates for its 2027 Summer Stars Internship Programme. Now in its tenth year, the programme has helped young people start careers in PR and communications.
Summer Stars matches ethnically diverse school leavers, students and graduates with paid internships at PR, public affairs and communications agencies and in-house teams.
Since 2018, the programme has supported over 400 ethnically diverse candidates in securing internships across the industry. In 2026, more than 50 interns were placed with organisations including Headland, Government Communication Service, Barclays, Virgin Media O2 and Cancer Research UK.
Many placements lead to longer-term roles. After her 2026 internship at Headland, Grace Yeung was offered a permanent position at the agency.
Elle Macgregor-Chatwin, Talent Acquisition Director at Headland Consultancy, said:
“Every summer, we welcome impressive interns through the programme who bring fresh thinking, energy and curiosity to Headland. They get stuck into agency life from day one and make a genuine contribution to our teams. In return, we aim to give every intern meaningful hands-on experience, new skills, greater confidence, and a real understanding of what a career in communications can offer.
The Taylor Bennett Foundation’s Summer Stars initiative is industry leading and we’re very proud to be a partner agency for another year running.”
Grace Yeung, Summer Stars Intern at Headland, said:
“My experience as an intern at Headland was eye-opening. I was able to gain hands-on experience and contribute as a junior member of teams that worked with clients spanning from sectors including FMCG, legal, and tech. I was also fortunate enough to receive a full-time return offer following the internship. Now, as a Trainee Account Executive at Headland, I’m working on accounts with clients from automotive, industrial, energy, legal, and financial industries.
I would definitely recommend applying to the Summer Stars program, especially if you’re interested in a full-time career in PR, as the internship can lead to many opportunities!”
Koray Camgöz, Chief Executive of the Taylor Bennett Foundation, said:
“Paid internships have never mattered more. A first paid opportunity can make an enormous difference: a chance to put your skills into practice, build relationships and see a future for yourself in an industry that might once have felt out of reach. Ten years on, Summer Stars has opened that door for hundreds of talented young people, and we’re proud of the path it has created.”
Shanet Mehari, Senior Programme Manager at the Taylor Bennett Foundation, said:
“Behind every placement is someone with talent and ambition, looking for the chance to show what they can do. Our employer partners have helped turn that potential into experience, confidence and careers, while benefiting from the ideas and perspectives these young people bring. We want our tenth year to open that door for even more people and encourage employers across the industry to be part of it.”
Successful candidates will take part in a three-day PR and Communications Bootcamp before beginning their internship, with placements ranging from four weeks to 12 months.
Apply now
Employers who sign up before 21st December will save £100 on the programme fee. Employers interested in hosting a Summer Star, and candidates who want to apply, can find more information at taylorbennettfoundation.org/summer-stars-internship-programme.
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 1,700 young people.