TfL’s Stuart Ross Communications Internship sparks debate

The Stuart Ross Communications Internship, which aims to give people the essential skills to start their careers, is an 11-month London-based hybrid job.

Under the requirements section in its advert, it states the applicant must be “of Black, Asian and minority ethnic background, defined as having some African, Afro-Caribbean, Asian or other non-white heritage.”

It adds that the candidate must be “either an undergraduate or recent graduate on track to receive or have already achieved, a 2:2 in any degree.”

It also considers applicants who are “a non-graduate with no more than one year’s paid experience in the communications industry.”

Although the programme gives an opportunity to develop written and verbal communication skills, it has caused a debate on social media for excluding native white British people from consideration.

One tweeted TfL by saying: “Can @TfL explain why they’re racist?”

Another said: “TFL job advertisement. This is racist. Imagine if the advert stated white applicants only.”

Despite the outrage on Twitter, there were many people supporting TfL’s programme.

One person tweeted: “It’s not racist. It is a diversity initiative.”

Another said: “This aims at helping black and minority ethnic groups get a foot in the door.”

The Stuart Ross scheme was set up in 2006 to help address the lack of diversity in the PR industry, according to TfL.

It adds that the advertised ethnic groups are under-represented regionally, and nationally, in communications.

The internship involves working on key projects such as creating campaigns and influencing how customers use London’s transport network and helping to shape its reputation.

The advertisement boasts that interns have moved on to permanent posts with TfL as well as jobs with the Metropolitan Police, Crossrail, Marks & Spencer, the Arts Council, and the National Health Service.