PR & Public Affairs Mentoring Programme
Looking to start out or develop your existing career journey within the PR & Communications or Public Affairs industry? Do you need a steer on your next career steps or do you need support to understand the job market and receive advice on how to progress in the industry? If the answer is yes, then our six-month PR Mentoring Programme is for you!
About the Programme
Open to undergraduates (2nd, 3rd & final year) and graduates and those working within the PR industry, the 6-month PR Mentoring Programme is an opportunity to receive structured support and guidance on entering and navigating the PR industry.
With mentors from a range of sectors such as Technology, Public Affairs, Consumer PR & Corporate PR, this programme invites experienced Public Affairs, PR & Communication practitioners to provide counsel and guidance to candidates across their areas of interest, including insights into the PR industry, professional development, employability support, and career progression.
Some of our
annual Mentors
Interested in being a mentor?
When you become a TBF mentor, you become an extension of our mission, vision and values for the next generation of diverse talent. For mentors who are looking to build their leadership skills for their career development through professional mentoring and coaching, our recruitment approach is tailored to meet your goals and objectives. For diverse mentors, the ability for mentees to see you as tangible social proof of their career goals is why we thrive on achieving success for both mentees and mentors across our selection process.
Programme Outline
Mentees: What will being mentored involve?
- Outlining your goals and objectives to obtain success
- Monthly, 1-2-1 hybrid mentoring sessions with your mentor
- Being proactive in seeing results, you get out what you put in
Mentors: What will being a mentor involve?
- The chance to build and expand your professional network
- Opportunity to develop your coaching and mentoring skill set for your professional development and career progression
- Paying it forward by utilising your expertise to support diverse professionals in meeting their objectives and goals set for the programme
Mentees and Mentors: How to make a strong application
What would you like to achieve through this mentorship? What would you like to learn? Thinking through and showcasing your intentions for the programme is key.
Allyship and accountability are important for the success of both mentors and mentees. Ensure that your goals are realistic to achieve in the time frame given and the support you need.
For mentees, we are keen to understand why you are seeking a PR-specific mentor. How can a mentor working within this industry support you? What areas of PR are you keen to learn about? Having these insights will help ensure that you are matched to the most appropriate mentor.
Programme Timeline
Our next PR & Public Affairs Mentoring Programme intake will be October 14th 2024 – April 11th 2025
- Mentee Applications deadline: Monday, September 9th 2024 (9.00am)
- Mentor Applications deadline: Friday, September 20th 2024
- Paying it forward by utilising your expertise to support diverse professionals in meeting their objectives and goals set for the programme
- Week Commencing September 9th 2024 (onwards): Applications will be reviewed and shortlisted mentees / mentors will be invited for a short virtual briefing (which will occur the week commencing September 16th)
- Thursday, October 17th: Virtual programme briefing event for the mentoring cohort
Programme Eligibility
- Mentees must be from a Black, Asian and/ or minority ethnic background.
- You must be an undergraduate student (second, third or final year) or graduate with any subject background
- You must have a keen interest in learning about and starting a career in PR and Communications.
- You must be able to commit to the full 6-month programme (1 session per month – 6 in total)
- Mentors would need to have at least 2 years PR and/or Public Affairs industry experience (we are open to mentors from all sectors and disciplines within communications)
Applications that do not meet our eligibility criteria will not be accepted
How do I apply?
Our next PR Mentoring programme will be running from October 14th 2024 – April 11th 2025. Applications for mentees have now closed but will we be sharing a registration of interest link in October.
If you are interested in being a mentor for our October 14th 2024 – April 11th 2025 programme, please click and apply here.