The award-winning Reverse Mentoring Scheme is the first programme of its kind to focus on BME PR Professionals in PR and Communications. The initiative is run by the Chartered Institute of Public Relations (CIPR) in partnership with the Taylor Bennett Foundation.
The scheme is in its fourth year and aims to tackle equity, diversity, and inclusion (EDI) challenges in the PR & comms by supporting industry leaders to create inclusive cultures where PR Professionals from diverse backgrounds can flourish. Senior agency and in-house leaders (the mentees) are paired with a comms professional from a Black, Asian, or ethnic minority background (the mentors). These unique pairings enable open and honest discussion about the experiences of people from BME backgrounds in our industry, and the cultural challenges they face, as well as wider conversations about race and society. The aim is to help leaders understand the realities of race in the workplace and support them in shaping inclusive cultures in the organisations they lead.
Avril Lee, Chair of the CIPR Diversity and Inclusion Network, said “We know that change doesn’t happen overnight but it takes everyone of us to have, at times, difficult conversations, to improve inclusion in marketing and communications. As a result of the programme, we have seen companies change how they approach recruitment or career development opportunities – these are practical actions that will make a difference”.
The PM Society Diversity and Inclusion Interest Group provides a forum for discussion of best practice in our industry – both in terms of company initiatives, awareness campaigns, and authentic representation of diverse patient populations in creative communications.
If you are interested in being part of the Reverse Mentoring Scheme please get in touch with Avril. If you are interested in the work of the PM Society, get in touch with Rachel Farrow, Rachel@pmsociety.org.uk or Jenny Claridge, jenny@pmsociety.org.uk.
