Today we launch Pitch Pipeline, a new internship scheme focused on attracting entry level talent to the PR industry from areas outside London. The internship will offer six months’ paid placement at London Living Wage to a candidate wishing to begin a career in PR, whether as a school leaver, graduate or career switcher. To aid the relocation process, the successful candidate will also be eligible for a Settling-In Loan to cover immediate costs associated with their move.
The programme has been developed with the aim of making a career in PR more accessible for fresh talent who are currently under-represented within the industry. Only 26 (17%) of the PR Week Top 150 Agencies are based outside of London, meaning that the best opportunities to break into the industry are overwhelmingly clustered in the capital. However, the associated costs of moving to, and living in, London presents a significant financial barrier for many at the start of their career, which perpetuates the lack of socio-economic diversity in PR.
To provide a solid foundation for a career in communications, the internship will combine on-the-job learning with a training programme created by Alex Wilson, Senior Strategist at Pitch and Co-Founder of The High Flyers PR Course, which has already educated more than 700 PR professionals. Modules focus on essential PR skills including media relations, creativity, campaign planning, and client management. The successful candidate will also receive access to mentoring from a senior team member.
To address inclusivity, travel costs for those invited for an in-person interview will be covered by Pitch. Candidates will also receive a pre-interview overview, providing guidance on what to expect and topics such as dress code, to aid preparation. The interview task will assess candidates’ suitability to learn the necessary skills, rather than any existing PR knowledge, and includes a clear scoring criteria to reduce the risk of unconscious bias.
Pitch Pipeline will run as a pilot this year and focus on bringing one intern into the agency’s PR team. As the programme evolves, Pitch will look to attract emerging talent interested in other specialisms within the agency’s capabilities, embedding them in its Partnerships, Social and Studio teams.
Managing Director of Pitch, Chris Allen said:
“The PR industry is very London-centric and as a London based agency we acknowledge our role in perpetuating that issue. Given we’re in the business of communicating with people across the nation, it’s vital that our people are representative of those audiences. PR should be doing more to address geographic diversity and we’re proud to be taking this small but important step in giving greater access to under-represented talent residing beyond the tube map.”
Pitch Pipeline builds on a number of measure the agency has put in place to become more equitable, diverse and inclusive. Over the last 12 months, Pitch has scrapped the requirement for university degrees for all roles, introduced enhanced family policies – covering fertility, pregnancy loss, parental leave and menopause – made DEI training compulsory and pays the London Living Wage. Pitch also participated in the PR Week Gender and Ethnicity Pay Gap reporting.
Clara Biu, who joined Pitch last year as a Non-Executive Director advising on Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, added:
“A key driver of the lack of socio-economic diversity in PR, and the creative industry as a whole, is the dominance of London. The capital is increasingly unaffordable and excludes many in the talent pool. Our aim is to reduce the barriers to entry for emerging talent, by giving more people from backgrounds currently under-represented in PR, the opportunity to kick start their career. We’re taking strides to be an agency with diversity of thought at its heart, and having a rich mix of different lived experiences and perspectives is crucial. We look forward to seeing the talent that Pitch Pipeline unlocks and supporting them to develop in a career they love.”
Pitch’s Settling-In Loan will offer up to £1,200 towards a rental deposit, first month’s rent or other moving costs, paid back as a gradual salary deduction in the same way as a season ticket loan. No prior PR experience or specific educational qualifications are required to apply for Pitch Pipeline, candidates simply have to demonstrate creativity, a strong interest in popular culture and how brands can connect with audiences, and a passion for a career in PR and Communications. Applications close on Friday 28th February 2025.
