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 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.

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APPLICATIONS FOR OUR SPRING PR TRAINING PROGRAMME IS NOW CLOSED - More information on our upcoming cohorts can be found here. 

The spring programme is sponsored by HSBC UK.

HSBC is one of the world’s largest banking and financial services organisations. We serve more than 40 million customers through our global businesses: Wealth and Personal Banking, Commercial Banking, and Global Banking & Markets. Our network covers 64 countries and territories in Europe, Asia, the Middle East and Africa, North America and Latin America.

To find out more about HSBC, visit  https://www.about.hsbc.co.uk/hsbc-uk

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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, it is yet to be decided if the spring 2021 programme will be delivered remotely or partly office based in London. Subject to government guidelines, we will keep applicants updated.

The 10-week programme is centred on the Strategic Communications segment of HSBC UK that designs and executes all of the communications strategies for the banking and financial services organisation. The programme combines practical workshops, with regular presenting and writing tasks to provide extensive industry insight and allow the development of specific skills. The training programme will include:  

• Strategic Communications workshops, including:
• An introduction to financial communications
• Investor relations and media relations
• Public affairs
• Issues and crisis communications
• Employability sessions 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 – including analysing and summarising data and reports as well as media summaries, press releases and blogs
• Masterclasses: weekly 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 - £292.60 per week training allowance – TAX AND NI EXEMPT (take-home pay is equivalent to your age and 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.
• Clear interest in the PR and Communications industry (especially financial services)

Eligibility

• You must be from a black, Asian and minority ethnic (BAME) background.
• You must be a graduate and graduated within the last three years. We will accept applications from graduates who have studied any subject.
• You must 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 09.30am-5.30pm).

Applications that do not meet our eligibility criteria will not be accepted.

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How do I apply?

Applications for our spring programme are now closed. More information on our upcoming programmes can be found here. 

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Highlights from our spring 2021 programme