Applications for the Taylor Bennett Foundation Summer Stars internship programme are now open!

Summer Stars launched in 2018, offering paid internships to young people from a black, Asian and minority ethnic (BAME) background, with agencies and in-house communications teams.

As stated in the CIPR State of the Profession 2019 census, the vast majority (92%) of practitioners classify themselves as white (compared to 88% in 2015), BAME practitioners represent only 8% of the industry. The Summer Stars programme is designed to address the need for greater ethnic diversity in the PR and Communications industry. 

With the support of many businesses in our network, the Summer Stars programme has gone from strength to strength, starting it’s pilot year in 2018 with 34 placements, which increased to 47 in 2019. 

The Summer Stars programme kicks off with a 3 day intensive PR & Communications bootcamp at the end of June for our interns. The bootcamp provides our Summer Stars with the opportunity to build their knowledge of the industry, before heading out into the workplace. Internships last a minimum of 4 weeks and can last up to a year.

Internships are key for young people in our network to gain first-hand experience of working in the PR and Communications industry. One of the most common pieces of feedback last year from our interns was how appreciative they were of getting an insight into an industry, that many had not considered before. Internships are also a great way for our candidates to start developing their professional networks and build relevant work experience. 

One intern said:
“Thank you so much for organising and facilitating such a phenomenal programme! I cannot begin to tell you how beneficial the lecture week has been and how much more prepared I feel to start my placement in a few weeks. The work that the TBF do has been nothing short of life changing for me so far. Thank you for allowing me to be apart of this incredible programme.”

Another intern said:
"This summer has been absolutely enlightening. I’ve had the pleasure of interning with an agency for 4 weeks via the Taylor Bennett Foundation. Where I was working alongside incredibly hardworking and talented creative minds; who have given me training on multiple aspects of the PR industry, helped me to nurture my PR skills and trained me to be confident in my own abilities. I have thoroughly enjoyed my time and I know the skills I learnt here will follow me wherever the future takes me!'

In turn, employers get the opportunity to showcase their business to bright, talented, motivated young people, who are keen to find out more about an industry that is not traditionally on their radar. Interns are paid, so they come in and do a job, they contribute to the business. By taking on an intern (or two), you get to hear different thoughts and opinions and you are starting a diverse pipeline of talent into your business. It's mutually beneficial for everyone!

One of our employers said:
"The Summer Stars programme meets a real need in our industry, enabling BAME candidates to get hands-on experience of PR in all its differing forms in a wide range of organisations.  I have been so impressed with the quality of the candidates coming through the programme – they are passionate and determined, and absolutely deserve the head-start Summer Stars gives them.  I would encourage any business that wants to foster diversity in its communications operation to get in touch with the Taylor Bennett Foundation ASAP!"

Help us to continue to make a difference to the young people we work with, by signing up to our Summer Stars 2020 programme.

2019 agencies and in-house comms teams supporting our Summer Stars programme were:
Action for Children, Aequitas, Aspectus Group, Barclays Brunswick Group, Buchanan CityPress, Eversheds Sutherland LLP, Facebook FleishmanHillard Fishburn, Freud Communications, Gemma Bell and Company, Hackney Council, Hanover, Hume Brophy, IAG (International Airlines Group), Imperial War Museums, Islington Council, Kekst CNC, Land Securities, Launch, MOO Print Ltd, Pagefield PR, Performance Communications, Porter Novelli Limited, Public Relations & Communications Association (PRCA), Ready10, Red Consultancy, Smith & Nephew, Stand Agency, Sutton, Teneo, The Academy, The Carlyle Group, The Octopus Group, Third City, Thread and Bloom, V&A Museum and W2O Group.g

Employers - If you are interested in hosting an intern through the Taylor Bennett Foundation, apply here.

Candidates - To apply for the Summer Stars programme, complete the online application form here. 

If you have any questions, please contact our programme manager Catriona [email protected]