Taylor Bennett Foundation

The Taylor Bennett Foundation is a non-profit organisation based in London, United Kingdom, that provides professional development services specifically designed to increase diversity within the public relations and communications industry. Established in 2008 and operating as a registered charity since 2013, the Foundation focuses on equipping young people from Black, Asian, and ethnic minority backgrounds with the skills, experience, and networks needed to enter and progress in the PR sector. Rather than offering traditional agency services to clients, the Taylor Bennett Foundation functions as an educational and career accelerator, delivering free training programmes, paid internships, mentoring, and leadership development opportunities. Its work is grounded in industry research and a commitment to social mobility, making it a distinct entity within the UK’s PR and communications landscape.

Services and Programmes

The Taylor Bennett Foundation offers a structured suite of programmes aimed at different stages of career development. Its core offering is a PR training programme that combines classroom-based learning with practical assignments, followed by a paid internship placement at a partner organisation. Interns receive a salary during their placement, which removes financial barriers often faced by underrepresented talent. Beyond the initial training, the Foundation provides mentoring schemes that connect alumni with senior professionals, as well as leadership development initiatives designed to support career progression into management roles. The Foundation also runs the Sina Nafisi Excellence Fund, which provides additional funding support for alumni pursuing further professional growth. All programmes are free for participants, with costs covered by corporate partners, industry donations, and grants. Typical service areas include:

• PR and communications training for ethnic minority youth (ages 16-24)
• Paid internship placements at PR agencies and in-house communications teams
• Mentoring and professional networking opportunities
• Leadership development and career progression support
• Industry research and diversity initiatives for the PR sector
• Funding and scholarship programmes (e.g., the Sina Nafisi Excellence Fund)

Target Audience and Impact

The Foundation specifically supports young people from Black, Asian, and ethnic minority backgrounds who are interested in pursuing careers in public relations and communications. Its programmes are designed for individuals aged 16 to 24, though some leadership opportunities extend to older alumni. The Taylor Bennett Foundation has built a strong track record: 97% of trainees from its PR training programme secure employment, and 30% of its alumni now hold senior management roles. The alumni community has grown to over 1,400 communications professionals, reflecting the Foundation’s sustained impact on workforce diversity. By focusing on talent development rather than general advocacy, it provides concrete pathways into an industry where ethnic minority representation has historically been low. The Foundation’s approach is practical and outcome-oriented, with measurable results in employment and career advancement.

Approach and Location

The Taylor Bennett Foundation operates from its headquarters at 35 Queen Anne Street in central London, United Kingdom. Its programmes are delivered both in-person and virtually, with internships typically based at partner organisations across London and other UK cities. The Foundation’s model relies on collaboration with PR agencies, in-house communications teams, and industry bodies, which provide internship placements, mentoring, and funding. This partnership-based approach ensures that training is directly aligned with industry needs and that participants gain real-world experience. The Foundation also conducts research on diversity within the PR sector, using findings to refine its programmes and advocate for systemic change. Its status as a registered charity reinforces its non-commercial mission, and its free-of-charge model distinguishes it from other training providers in the UK.

The Taylor Bennett Foundation is a suitable resource for young people from ethnic minority backgrounds seeking to enter the PR and communications field, particularly those who lack the financial means or professional networks to access traditional internships. It is also a valuable partner for PR agencies and communications departments in the United Kingdom that want to improve their diversity pipelines and support social mobility. Organisations looking to recruit diverse talent or demonstrate tangible commitment to DEI initiatives may find the Foundation’s programmes effective. While it does not offer services to clients in the conventional sense, its work directly benefits the industry by expanding the pool of skilled, diverse professionals entering the sector.