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 autumn PR Training programme are now open - Apply here!

The autumn programme is sponsored by Finsbury, a global strategic communications agency.

Who are Finsbury?
Finsbury is a global leader in strategic communications. They are trusted advisers to boards, senior executives and legal counsel of many of the world’s most successful companies, institutions and organizations.

As an award-winning consultancy, Finsbury have managed some of the most complex communications challenges of the last three decades. They help clients communicate with clarity and impact when it matters most: during times of opportunity, change and crisis.  In recognition of this, The M&A Advisor named Finsbury Communications Firm of the Year for 2019 and Chambers and Partners ranked the firm among the top PR & communications agencies for litigation support.

To find out more about Finsbury, visit https://www.finsbury.com/who-we-are/


What is the PR Training programme?
The Taylor Bennett Foundation (TBF) PR Training programme is generally a ten-week intensive PR and Communications training programme. Due to the impact of COVID-19, the autumn programme has had to be pushed back, therefore it will be slightly shorter than usual and will run for eight weeks.

The final delivery format of the autumn programme is yet to be confirmed, but trainees should expect a mix of virtual and in-person sessions in London.

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

  • Workshops and training in all services offered by Finsbury including financial communications, corporate campaigning, public affairs, crisis management and public policy.
  • Learning how companies reach and engage their stakeholders, the UK media and digital channels and other PR skills.
  • Masterclasses: weekly masterclasses (webinars and visits) take place with a variety of agencies and in-house communication’s teams
  • Training courses via the PRCA and CIPR
  • Writing tasks – conducting daily newspaper summaries of the broadsheets, mid-market tabloids and the red tops. Writing press releases and maintaining a blog which looks at prominent issues and case studies within the industry.
  • Presenting – presenting campaigns and research topics to a variety of audiences
  • Expert careers coaching to help you plan your future in the communications industry


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.

How do I apply?
Applications for our autumn programme are now open. To apply, you will need to complete our autumn PR Training programme application form – please click here to apply.  

Eligible graduates will need to submit an application form by Sunday 20th September 2020.

What happens next?
Shortlisted applicants will be invited to take part in an assessment day. The assessment day will take place on Friday 9th October 2020 with successful graduates joining the eight-week programme from Monday 12th October 2020 to Friday 4th December 2020.

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