Applications are now open for the Summer Scotland 2018 Taylor Bennett Foundation traineeship programme.

These programmes are designed directly to address the need for greater ethnic diversity in the communications & PR industry and are open to all black and minority ethnic (BAME) graduates.

The 5-week programme is sponsored by Standard Life Aberdeen plc and strategic communications consultancy Charlotte Street Partners. The programme is being provided in partnership with Edinburgh Business School, Heriot-Watt University, and will be based at their Edinburgh campus. The programme is also supported by the Chartered Institute of Public Relations (CIPR) Scotland.

Four recent graduates will receive professional training in all aspects of PR, including sessions provided by the programme sponsors. Areas covered include training in UK media and digital channels, PR writing and presentational skills, and an introduction to financial and corporate PR, consumer PR, investor relations, reputation and brand building, and public affairs. Trainees will learn how to communicate effective messages to audiences as part of promotional campaigns and in crisis situations, and how to reach and engage stakeholders. Participants will also have careers and employability coaching to help them plan their future in the communications industry.

83% of our alumni have gone on to secure work in the communications industry. The training allowance is equivalent to the UK Real Living Wage.

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
• Written and oral communications skills; people who can listen, are articulate and persuasive

You will:
• Want to pursue a successful career in PR and communications
• Be a graduate. We will accept applications from graduates who have studied
any subject
• Be a British national or have immigration status that allows you to be
employed in the UK at the end of the 5 week programme
• Be able to commit to the full 5 week programme based in Edinburgh