INTRODUCTION TO THE PR MENTORING PROGRAMME 

Our PR Mentoring Programme has allowed us to expand the reach of the Foundation’s work, by supporting a greater number of talented students as they pursue a career in communications and PR. Spanning over a six-month period, our PR Mentoring Programme offers black, Asian and minority ethnic (BAME) candidates (18+) interested in a career in public relations (PR) and communications the opportunity to be allocated a mentor. 

To date, we have made over 70 successful matches and through our survey findings it is evident that mentoring has benefited both the mentee and the mentor. Previous mentees have reported that the mentoring process helped them develop their knowledge of the industry and their contacts; it has also helped them build their confidence in applying for PR roles.

Our mentors have also fed back on how much they have benefited from the mentoring relationship, with over a quarter of mentors reporting that they now feel better equipped to give PR specific advice.

"It is a pleasure to mentor the amazing Yeside Williams as part of the Taylor Bennett Foundation PR Mentoring programme. Meeting and supporting young people brimming with raw energy, creative talent & fresh perspectives in the comms industry is a highlight of my job"

Emma Blint, Marketing Manager, 72Point

WHAT IS THE PR MENTORING PROGRAMME? 

Designed to directly address the need for greater ethnic diversity in the communications and PR industry, our six-month PR Mentoring Programme is an opportunity for BAME candidates to not only gain a clear understanding of the public relations industry, insight into the different strands of the sector but you will also receive support and guidance from an experienced practitioner.

Our PR Mentoring Programme takes the more traditional form of mentoring, with strong elements of a reverse mentoring structure. Whilst the aim is for mentees to gain a better understanding of the PR industry, we want all mentors that sign up to the programme to gain an insight into the challenges BAME students face when trying to enter the workplace, so this will be a two-way relationship.

Upon completion of the programme, all mentees will receive: 

• A mentor that will provide consistent support and will be available to answer any industry queries

• An in-depth understanding of the PR and communications industry

• Support in navigating and understanding the recruitment process 

• The chance to develop a career action plan that includes updating and improving CV/covering letter 

WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS OF BEING A MENTOR? 

• It is an opportunity to gain a deeper insight into the challenges BAME candidates face when trying to enter the industry

• It is a chance to improve and hone your own coaching/career development skills

• An opportunity to develop your own self-reflective and interpersonal skills

• A sense of achievement in helping someone start their own career journey

2019 mentors:

72Point, Bupa, CCGroup PR, Google UK, Harvard, Headland Consultancy, Interel Group, London Communications, MOO, Smarts Communicate and Tulchan.

HOW TO GET INVOLVED

Applications for our Spring 2021 cohort will open from January 2021. If you are interested in becoming a mentor for the Taylor Bennett Foundation and would like to register your interest for our Spring 2021 programme then please click here and complete our short form. 

Once submitted, a member of the team will contact you to provide more information and once open, will send an application form for you to complete. 

In order to participate in the programme, there is also a fee included per mentee allocated to yourself or your organisation. To discuss this further, please do contact our Programme Manager Gabrielle Thuesday for details – [email protected].