The #10000BlackInterns initiative is designed to help transform the horizons and prospects of young Black people in the United Kingdom.
The NHS, the law firm Linklaters and the accountancy firm PricewaterhouseCoopers are among some large companies that have promised to cumulatively hire 10,000 black interns over 5 years amid a push to improve the diversity of the UK’s professional industries.
Businesses who sign up to the #10000BlackInterns programme will offer paid internships for a minimum of 4-6 weeks in sectors that have struggled to increase their ethnic diversity to match the broader UK population. Candidates will apply to the #10000BlackInterns programme and choose a number of sectors. It is expected that applicants will be Black students in higher education in the United Kingdom
Other organisations in education, healthcare and advertising have already signed up to the scheme, alongside accountants and the legal profession.
The scheme has received backing from the Confederation of British Industry, as well as the former prime minister David Cameron, Lady Amos, a Labour peer and former MP Chuka Umunna.
It follows the successful launch of a smaller scheme, 100 Black Interns, in August, targeted at the “chronic under-representation of Black talent” in the investment management industry. More than 200 investment companies have signed up to the earlier initiative.
Both campaigns were started by the same team of former investment industry professionals.
The campaign intends to hire a chief executive and trustees shortly as it gains more partners, with the aim of rolling out the internships over the course of 2020 and 2021.
Interns must be paid the Living Wage for the relevant geographic location during their placement.
The successful interns will then commit to mentor and sponsor future interns on the programme.
More information here.