The initiative aims to increase diversity by helping organisations widen their recruiting net to graduates from outside the elite Russell Group of universities while ensuring that interns are paid at least minimum wage.
Since the scheme's launch in April, 12 universities (listed below) have become partners to introduce their graduates to participating agencies. It has also attracted the support of pressure campaign Intern Aware and the Taylor Bennett Foundation, which was set up in 2008 to encourage diversity in PR.
The PRWeek/PRCA Census 2013 demonstrated the industry’s failure to become truly inclusive, as 91 per cent of people in the survey were white, a fractional improvement on the previous 2011 Census when white people accounted for 92 per cent of the business.
All organisations involved in the scheme will be entered into an awards ceremony held next summer, recognising their commitment to increasing diversity in the industry.
Organisations will be able to take part by hiring trainees from the Taylor Bennett Foundation trainee programme. All interns must be hired for at least a month and be paid at least the national minimum wage.
Southampton Solent University and Manchester Metropolitan University have recently joined the initiative, making the full list of 12 universities as follows:
- Bournemouth
- Bucks New University
- DeMontfort
- Greenwich
- Leeds Met
- Lincoln
- London College of Communication
- Manchester Metropolitan University
- Sheffield Hallam
- Southampton Solent University
- UCLan
- Westminster
Good Relations and Ogilvy PR are the latest of the top 25 agencies to join the scheme. The full list of those signed up are:
- Bell Pottinger
- Brunswick
- Cohn & Wolfe
- Edelman
- Fishburn
- FleishmanHillard
- Freuds
- FTI Consulting
- Good Relations
- Golin
- Hill+Knowlton Strategies
- MHP
- MSL Group London
- Ogilvy PR
- The Red Consultancy
- Weber Shandwick
Those interested in signing up or finding out more about the scheme should contact PRCA communications director Matt Cartmell on matt.cartmell@prca.org.uk.
