Burson PR Training Programme
The Taylor Bennett Foundation’s award-winning PR Training Programme is a paid full-time, 8-week intensive training programme in Public Relations (PR), Public Affairs & Communications. With no previous experience required in PR, the programme has been designed to increase ethnic diversity within the profession, equipping recent graduates with the relevant networks, knowledge and skills to springboard their career into the industry.
Applications for our 2026 Burson PR Training Programme are open! Delivered by global communications agency, Burson’s PR Training Programme will run from Tuesday May 26th – Friday July 16th 2026.
About the Programme
Open to graduates from a Black, Asian and minority ethnic background, our award-winning PR Training Programme is a traineeship that aims to provide you with the fundamental skills, insights and training to kickstart a career in the PR, Public Affairs & Communications industry.
Specifically, this is done by the programme being designed under three key pillars of building connections with industry professionals (and fellow trainees), learning essential skills for a career in PR and gaining the tools and confidence to secure an entry-level role.
All traineeships are paid through a training allowance of the national minimum wage (in line with your age) and an additional amount to cover travel expenses up to Zones 1-3.
PR Training Programme Partners
Several training programmes run throughout the year and each programme has a different partner. Our current programme partners are:
Introduction to Burson
Burson UK helps brands build, protect, and leverage their reputation to achieve tangible business results. We combine deep industry expertise with cutting-edge technology to deliver measurable impact. In the UK’s complex and competitive communications landscape, now more than ever, we know that a strong reputation is a critical driver of business success.
As the global leader in communications we operate seamlessly across services, sectors and stakeholders through highly specialised teams, industry-leading technologies and innovative creativity. We are an award-winning team of creative problem solvers and seasoned counsellors who unlock brilliant ideas and illuminate a world of opportunity in the UK and across the globe.
Our sector and discipline expertise, combined with our global reach and local relevance, allows us to assemble the right team for every client, ensuring tailored solutions that resonate in the UK and beyond. Learn more about our global network here.
Our UK business is anchored around distinct practice areas: Brand, Sport and Entertainment; Corporate and Public Affairs; Health and Wellness; Technology; and Sustainability and Social Impact. To learn more about Burson, please visit their website here – https://www.bursonglobal.com/
Programme Outline
The Burson Public Relations Training Programme is a holistic in-person, full-time, cohort-based traineeship where 8 graduates will be accepted onto the UK cohort. To see our frequently asked questions on the programme, please click here.
Employability & Pastoral Support
Employability is embedded throughout the 8-week programme to ensure you have the tools to plan your future in the industry. This includes 1-2-1 mentoring from Burson team members, weekly development check-ins, CV & cover letter workshops, mock interviews and job applications support.
Skills Development
Practical training on the role of a Strategic Communications Advisor alongside building a generalist skill set to confidently deliver the fundamentals. Some training will include; understanding the campaign creation process, branding, learning how to present, strategy, storytelling, press release writing, media monitoring and stakeholder engagement.
Training
Immersive in-person workshops delivered by Burson that provide an insight into their public affairs, branding and communication teams. This can include areas such as Entertainment, Sustainability, Sport, Health & Wellness.
Masterclasses
Weekly in-person masterclasses delivered by a range of PR agencies & in-house communications teams to showcase and help you decide the area of PR you would love to go into. From policy, technology and consumer to investor relations, healthcare, public affairs, digital and transport, there is something for everyone!
Networking
Through our weekly masterclasses, Burson workshops and facilitated alumni events, trainees will have numerous opportunities to build relationships not only with their peers on the programme but the wider communications industry.
Programme Eligibility
In order to participate in the PR Training Programme, you must be from a Black, Asian and/ or minority ethnic background.
You must be a graduate who has graduated within the last three years (or a final year student that will be finished with their studies by the time of the programme). We accept applications from graduates who have studied any subject.
You must be a British national or have the right to work in the UK by commencement of employment.
You must be tangibly interested in the work of Burson and in pursuing a career in Public Relations.
You must be able to commit to the full in-person programme, which will be based in London (Monday-Friday, 9.30am-5.30pm).
A background in PR is not required to be successful! We are seeking potential over experience and those that are willing to learn.
How to make a strong application
We want to see your passion for the world of communications, brand, the news and business, and how this is interconnected with politics, media and social issues.
We want to understand what it is about PR & Communications at Burson that appeals to you and why you want to learn more about PR as a career path.
We are seeking trainees that are willing to learn, curious and possess strong written & communication skills. Be honest on what you hope to achieve through our holistic programme.
How do I apply?
Applications for our Taylor Bennett Foundation & Burson PR Training Programme are currently open! Applications for the Burson PR & Strategic Communications Training programme will close on Thursday April 23rd 2026.
Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis and shortlisted applicants will be invited to attend an initial virtual interview with the Foundation.
If successful, applicants will be invited to attend a final stage in-person assessment day on the week commencing May 11th (a virtual pre-assessment briefing will be provided ahead of the assessment day on Thursday May 7th 2026).
We encourage early applications as applications will be reviewed on an ongoing basis.
If you have any queries regarding the PR Training Programme or application process, please contact applications@taylorbennettfoundation.org.
