INTRODUCTION TO THE PR TRAINING PROGRAMME 

The Taylor Bennett Foundation's award-winning PR Training Programme is a full-time training course in Public Relations (PR) and Communications, designed to equip participants with the relevant knowledge, insights and skills to work in the PR and corporate communications industry.

Our training programme is designed to directly address the need for greater ethnic diversity in the Public Relations (PR) and Communications industry and is open to graduates from a black, Asian and minority ethnic (BAME) background.

There are a number of programmes each year, each sponsored by a different PR or communications agency. Our current sponsors are: Brunswick Group, Finsbury and FTI Consulting.

APPLICATIONS FOR OUR WINTER 2021 PROGRAMME ARE NOW OPEN - TO APPLY CLICK HERE

The winter programme is sponsored by FTI Consulting, a global business advisory firm.

With more than 25 years’ experience advising management teams through their communications needs, FTI Consultancies is one of the world’s most highly regarded communications consultancies. FTI Consulting is an independent global business advisory firm that is dedicated to helping organisations manage change, mitigate risk and resolve disputes whether financial, legal, operational, political or reputational.   

To find out more about FTI Consulting, visit https://www.fticonsulting.com/about/

What is the PR Training programme?

The Taylor Bennett Foundation (TBF) PR Training programme is generally an in-person ten-week intensive PR and Communications training programme. Due to the impact of COVID-19, the winter programme will be delivered remotely for the entire programme. 

The 10-week virtual programme is centred on the Strategic Communications segment of FTI Consulting that designs and executes communications strategies for clients managing financial, regulatory and reputational challenges.

The programme combines practical workshops, with regular presenting and writing tasks to provide extensive industry insight and allow the development of specific skills. Tasks on the programme include:  

  • Strategic Communications workshops, including an introduction to financial communications, investor relations, public policy, public affairs, corporate communications, reputation, and brand building
  • Learning how companies reach and engage their stakeholders, the UK media and digital channels and other PR skills
  • Employability session to help you plan your future in the communications industry
  • Tailored English tuition session to boost your writing skills
  • Presenting – presenting campaigns and research topics to a variety of audiences
  • Writing tasks – conducting daily newspaper summaries of the broadsheets, mid-market tabloids and the red tops. Writing regular press releases and maintaining a blog which looks at prominent issues and case-studies within the industry
  • Masterclasses: weekly (virtual) masterclasses take place with a variety of agencies and in-house communication’s teams
  • Training courses via the CIPR and PRCA 

The traineeships are paid - £287.00 per week training allowance – TAX AND NI EXEMPT (take-home pay is equivalent to the National Minimum Wage).

Will I secure a job when the programme finishes?

Whilst jobs are not guaranteed, there is a strong possibility of employment opportunities after the programme.

We have an excellent track record of helping graduates of the training programme get into work. In 2019 100% of the PR Trainees went straight into employment or a fixed term contract, many were with their sponsoring agencies.

Overall, 62% of our alumni are still working in communications [2018 survey].

What are we looking for?

  • Passion for current affairs, the commercial world and the media.
  • Raw talent, ambition and drive.
  • Excellent research and analytical skills.
  • Lively curiosity and a hunger to learn.
  • Communications skills; people who can listen are articulate and persuasive.

Eligibility

  • You must be from a black, Asian and minority ethnic (BAME) background.
  • You must be a graduate and graduated in the last three years. We will accept applications from graduates who have studied any subject.
  • You should be strongly interested in pursuing a career in Public Relations (PR) and communications.
  • You must be a British national or have an immigration status that allows you to be employed in the UK at the end of the programme.
  • You must be able to commit to the full programme (Monday-Friday).

Applications that do not meet the above criteria will not be accepted. 

How do I apply?

Applications for our winter programme are now open. To apply, you will need to complete our winter programme application form – please click here to access the application form.   

Eligible graduates need to submit an application form by 5.00pm Friday, January 1st, 2021. 

What happens next?

For those that have applied within the deadline, shortlisted applicants will be invited to take part in an initial interview with the Foundation. If successful, you will be invited to attend our virtual assessment day. All shortlisted candidates will need to be available on the below dates. 

Initial interviews will take place on Wednesday, January 6th 2021 and Thursday, January 7th 2021.

The assessment day will take place on Friday 15th January 2021 with successful graduates joining the ten-week virtual programme from Monday 18th January 2021 to Friday 26th March 2021. 

If you have any queries about the PR Training programme or application process, then please contact [email protected].