It is now week 8 for me on the Taylor Bennett Foundation programme, what a time it’s been so far! I have had the opportunity to visit so many agencies, network beyond belief and experienced insight from various industry experts through several masterclasses. To say that the programme has been invaluable, would be an understatement.
However, this poses the question, why does the Taylor Bennett Foundation even exist?
Taken from their website – the Taylor Bennett Foundation is a charity that exists to encourage black, Asian and minority ethnic (BAME) graduates to pursue a career in communications. Headlines by its award-winning PR training programme, the foundation also offers numerous internships and mentoring programmes. The alumni network is extensive, impacting all aspects of the industry. Companies across the PR and communications sector are reaping the benefits of the Taylor Bennett Foundation and its graduates.
With such a lack of diversity, why is the TBF receiving the majority of the onus for change? From all of the agencies I have visited, I have always heard about how change and diversity of thought are required. However, there has not been a universal answer for how the industry can achieve that growth. Certain companies have suggested that BAME candidates are simply not interested. Others would argue that there is a lacking talent pool. For all the speculation, there needs to be greater action than everyone piggybacking off the work of one charity. Someone summed up the Taylor Bennett Foundation perfectly, “the work they do is amazing, their effects can be seen, but there has to be a better way of improving the industry, rather than simply doing it 6 people at a time”.
To me, the main issue regarding diversity in PR is a lack of access. For many people within the industry, PR was a career path they stumbled upon. Ironically, PR has a public relations issue, with many graduates unaware of the industry. I believe if more BAME graduates were given insights about the industry, this would help increase the talent pool. Portland Communications are always at university career fairs, but where is everyone else? Another issue regarding access comes from the necessity to network. Since I’ve started the TBF PR training programme, I have quickly seen the power of networking. For many BAME graduates, they do not have the gateway to access large networks to further their careers. I believe if more companies looked to adopt a model similar to the Taylor Bennett Foundation and actively looked at investing money into developing BAME candidates, the industry could see mass growth.
Increasing diversity within the PR industry can only provide benefits. With a greater diversity of thought, PR disasters such as the H&Ms clothing campaign could be avoided. There is also the opportunity to enter new markets with more nuanced information. Most importantly, our society is seeing massive changes occur. With gender diversity being such a topical subject, sustainability and racial diversity are seeing that same spotlight. It takes bravery for a company to actively seek to make a difference. However, the potential difference that this investment in BAME talent can make within the PR industry is gigantic.
It’s time to stand up.
20/20 Vision 