Candidates Programmes PR Training programme PR Training programme INTRODUCTION TO THE PR TRAINING PROGRAMME The Taylor Bennett Foundation's award-winning PR Training Programme is a ten week full-time training course in public relations, designed to equip participants with relevant skills to work in the PR and corporate communications industry. 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. Participants receive formal training, meet leading practitioners from the communications business, and participate in practical PR-related projects. The Training Programme runs for a ten week period, during which participants are paid a training allowance and receive travel expenses. There is no promise of employment at the end of this programme, but participants will receive expert careers coaching as they begin their job search. IS THE TRAINING PROGRAMME FOR YOU? • The programme is aimed at ethnic minority graduates who have graduated in the past three years. • First degree or postgraduate applicants are welcome. • Applicants should have an interest in pursuing a career in public relations or corporate communications in the UK, but are not required to have any previous experience in this industry. • The programme is intended to prepare graduates to work in PR in the UK and to address the lack of diversity in the PR sector in this country. For this reason, although the programme does not guarantee subsequent employment, applicants must be a British national or have immigration status that allows them to be employed in the UK at the end of the ten week programme. • Applicants must be able to commit for the full ten week programme. The programme is a full-time commitment, with a trainee’s day running from 9.30am to 5.30pm, Monday to Friday, with occasional early starts and frequent evening events to attend. YOUR COMMITMENT • Trainees sign up to a rigorous and intensive ten week programme. It is a full-time commitment. • Whilst the trainee’s day will formally start at 9.30am and finish at 5.30pm each day, in practice they will have to fit in homework, group exercises and networking outside of those hours. • It is not uncommon for our ambitious trainees to burn the midnight oil as they try to maximise their learning and work to meet their presentation deadlines. • In our experience, the more trainees put in to the training, the more they get out, and the more they shine – making them better equipped for their careers. TRAINING ALLOWANCE • Trainees will receive a training allowance of £269.50 per week which is tax and NI free. • Trainees will receive a travel allowance from home to Zone 3 (incl Zone 1) for the duration of the programme. WHAT YOU WILL LEARN • Trainees will be based primarily at the Taylor Bennett Foundation’s offices. Assignments and training sessions will regularly take trainees to other companies. A travel allowance will be given. • Office hours are 9.30am – 5.30pm and trainees will be required to attend the programme between these hours for the duration of the training course. . • Trainees’ time will be split between formal training workshops, visits to communications and media companies, and participating in practical PR-related projects. They will also have a weekly session at the offices of the relevant sponsor company (currently FTI Consulting, Brunswick and Finsbury). • While on the programme, trainees will gain skills, knowledge, and practical experience in the following areas: Public Relations & Communications: Stakeholders, channels and messages, sectors within PR, the role of agencies and in-house teams, the role of a PR executive, planning a campaign, journalist relationships, writing a press release, preparing and delivering presentations, corporate events and announcements, pitching for work, the role of the CEO in corporate communications, crisis management, corporate reputation, corporate social responsibility, how PR fits in with marketing and advertising. Finance: Understanding the City and investment markets, investor relations, financial PR. Some trainees will also receive specialist financial and corporate communications training from Finance Talking. Politics: How the UK political system works, decision makers and opinion formers in Westminster and Whitehall, and how the public affairs sector fits in. Media: The news media in the UK, how a newspaper works, what makes a good news story, how the media is changing, business media, broadcast media, regional and local media, magazines, the role of the internet and social media. Media Skills: Grammar and writing skills, researching stories, media interviews, reviewing, the art of blogging, copyright and media law. Web & IT: Email etiquette, web research, office and Powerpoint best practice, Apple Mac skills, using a server. Office Skills: Dress codes and etiquette, time management, team work and interpersonal skills, office equipment, health & safety. Your Career: Career planning, CV writing, personal networks – how to develop and use them, job search, job applications, job interview techniques. • This training will be delivered through lectures, workshops, meetings with practitioners, practical assignments and visits to PR and media companies. • We would emphasise that participation in the Training Programme does not guarantee future work; it is purely a training opportunity to provide the successful candidates with the skills to pursue future employment opportunities in PR. • All trainees will receive extensive skills coaching and careers advice and will leave the programme better prepared to find the right job and launch their career. We will provide all participants with references and help them with their CV and portfolio. THE APPLICATION PROCESS • Trainees will be chosen by a two-stage selection process. • Interested candidates first submit an application form. A shortlist is then drawn up and these candidates are invited to attend an Assessment Day. • About a week prior to the Assessment Day a briefing will take place for all candidates which will explain the assessment process and provide practical tips and advice on how to approach the day. • Shortlisted candidates will be contacted by telephone/email to confirm their attendance at both the Assessment Day and the Briefing Session. • The Assessment Day runs from 8.15am to 5.00pm and will consist of written tests, group exercises and individual interviews. You will also be asked to give a presentation. • In addition to preparing your formal presentation, we recommend candidates read up on the PR industry and any partner companies involved in the programme, and keep up with key news stories, particularly as reported by the daily newspapers, ahead of the Assessment Day. • You must wear business dress for the Assessment Day. WHAT ARE WE LOOKING FOR?The Taylor Bennett Foundation programmes are designed to directly address the need for greater diversity in the communications & PR industry. During the assessment process, we are looking for all of the following: • Raw talent, ambition and drive. • Excellent research and analytical skills. • Lively curiosity and a hunger to learn. • Passion for current affairs, the commercial world and the media. • Communications skills; people who can listen, are articulate and persuasive. You will: • Want to pursue a successful career in the UK PR and communications industry. • Be a graduate. • Be a British national or have immigration status that allows you to be employed in the UK at the end of the ten week programme. • Be able to commit to the full ten week programme (the hours are long; it is an extremely intensive training scheme and is not for the faint-hearted!)