PR & Communications Training Programme - Frequently Asked Questions 

Do I have to be London based to participate in the programme?

Yes. The training programme will have in-person masterclass sessions as well as training days with the programme partner and as a result, therefore, you will need to be London based.

Additionally, to be eligible for the programme you would need to be a British National or have immigration status that allows you to be employed in the UK at the end of the programme. 

Do I need a PR related degree or PR experience to apply for the programme? 

We accept applications from candidates that have studied in any degree subject. We receive candidate applications from a wide range of degree subjects such as Law, Politics, Biology, International Relations, English and History (to note a few). The degree subject that you have studied will not negatively impact your application for the training programme. 

Regarding PR & Communications experience, whilst we encourage those that possess any shadowing, work or internship experience to include this in your application, it is not mandatory to have any PR & Communications experience for this training programme. We are looking for individuals who are passionate about entering the industry. 

Will it be a virtual programme? 

No, this is not a virtual programme. Historically, the training programme is an in-person programme but in 2020 and 2021 due to the impact of COVID-19, the programmes took a virtual or hybrid format however, the current programme will be delivered in person. 

What does a typical day on the programme look like?

There will be a lot of variety on the programme and as a result the days/weeks will vary however, a typical day can look like the following:

9.30am -10.30am	Reading through the latest stories and headlines in the newspaper and completing a media monitoring task.
10.30am-12.30pm	Attending an in-person masterclass with an agency or in-house communications team, that introduces you to a new sector such as Public Affairs, B2B Tech or Fashion PR or taking part in a practical training session like writing a press release or developing a creative pitch.
12.30pm-2.30pm	Time for travel between masterclasses and an opportunity for lunch.
2.30pm-5.30pm	Attending an in-person masterclass with an agency or in-house communications team, that introduces you to a new sector such as Public Affairs, B2B Tech or Fashion PR or taking part in a practical training session like writing a press release or developing a creative pitch.

Free time - There will be opportunities for free-time in which you can meet with your mentor or spend time with your fellow trainees working on tasks such as press release writing, pitching or tasks.

What is the application process? 

There is a three-step process for the PR & Communications programme. Firstly, you complete our online application form. Once the applications deadline has passed, all applications will be reviewed and a round of shortlisting will be completed. 

If shortlisted, you will be through to the second stage; completing an initial interview with the Foundation.  At this point, there will be a second stage of shortlisting and if successful, you would be through to the final stage. 

The final and third stage involves attending a pre-assessment briefing and an assessment morning. Once you have completed this stage, we will inform you on whether you have successfully secured a place on the programme. 

Throughout the entire application process, the Foundation’s team is on hand to answer any queries. 

I’ve completed a Masters, am I eligible to apply?

Candidates that have completed a master’s are eligible to apply. The core requirement is that you have completed a bachelor’s degree with at least a 2:1 grading. 

If you are in the midst of completing your master’s degree then you are still eligible to apply but you must be able to commit to the full training programme as it runs from Monday – Friday, 09.30am – 5.30pm. If you wish to enquire about this further, then please contact the TBF team via [email protected]. 

There are mitigating circumstances as to why I didn’t achieve a 2:1, can I still apply?

Whilst our eligibility criteria includes achieving a 2:1 at degree level, all applications are reviewed individually. If you did not achieve a 2:1 due to mitigating circumstances then please do get in touch (prior to submitting an application form) with the team to discuss this further, as applications are reviewed on a case by case basis. 

Will I secure a job when the programme finishes? 

Whilst jobs are not guaranteed as it is a traineeship, we have an excellent track record of helping trainees secure work. In 2021, 94% of graduates went straight into a permanent or fixed term contract.

Who are your masterclass hosts for the training programme? 

The Foundation works with a wide range of in-house communication teams and PR & Communications agencies and as a result, the range of masterclass hosts and topics vary from programme to programme. That being said, previous agency masterclass hosts have included CCgroup, Propeller Group, The PHA Group, FleishmanHillard, Citizens Relations and Grayling, as well as in-house masterclasses with charities, museums, banks and law firms.