Over 70% of young, black talent from 10,000 Interns Foundation programmes remain employed
The 10,000 Interns Foundation, a pioneering non-profit organisation dedicated to fostering equitable opportunities for Black talent in the UK, today published its first-ever Impact Report. Alongside the Foundation’s comprehensive 10-year strategy to drive systemic change in transforming the workplace for underrepresented talent, the Report reveals significant achievements, such as over 70% of internship alumni currently being in employment and 30% retained at their host organisations.
Since its establishment in 2020, the Foundation has facilitated over 7,000 paid internships with organisations including the BBC, Morgan Stanley, the Royal Academy, Sainsburys and Slaughter and May and received over 50,000 applications. The Report reveals the transformative power of these internships but also serves as a clarion call, underscoring the urgent need to address systemic inequalities.
The Foundation’s unique data reveals that Black candidates encounter significant barriers to entry due to narrow definitions of ‘quality’ and unconscious bias in recruitment processes. Its work has not only created pathways for Black talent but has also challenged conventional recruitment practices, highlighting the disparity between perceived ‘quality’ of applications and actual intern performance.
Rebecca Ajulu-Bushell, CEO of the 10,000 Interns Foundation, commented: “What we have achieved in four short years is completely unique. A scale of direct impact that hasn’t been attempted before. We have built the fastest growing pipeline of Black Talent in the UK, truly changing lives and rewriting generational narratives. We’ve learned a huge amount and now we’re ready to meet an even bigger challenge than access: workplace culture.”
Wol Kolade, co-founder of the 10,000 Interns Foundation, added: ““The progress we’ve made in such a short time is a testament to the resilience and potential of Black talent in the UK. While we celebrate these milestones, we remain acutely aware of the deep-rooted systemic barriers that persist. Beyond their written form, this Impact Report and our 10-year strategy embody a transformative force, a commitment to relentlessly challenge the status quo and create a truly inclusive and equitable workplace for all.”
The 10-year strategy, grounded in robust data and insights, sets forth an ambitious vision for the Foundation to broaden its reach, strengthen engagement with Black talent and solidify its position as a thought leader on diversity and inclusion whilst catalysing the transformation of recruitment practices.
