Transport for London - Communications Internship

Transport for London (TfL) is responsible for one of the world's most successful urban transport networks. We are a truly unique organisation, providing the travel system and infrastructure upon which London relies. Delivering almost the entire London travel network, we manage everything from the London Underground and London Buses, to London Riverboat Services, London Trams and 580km of the capital's roads. But we don't just get people from A to B. The services we supply ensure the economic and social wellbeing of one of the world's greatest cities.We're not just thinking about today though. We're also planning for tomorrow - building a transport network fit for a 21st Century city. We're playing a vital role in preparing London for the Olympic games, and in creating a more sustainable future for the capital. The vast range of services we provide, and the team we need to provide them, enable us to offer an unprecedented variety of graduate schemes.

Bursary - A bursary of £21,824 (in line with London Living Wage)

Internship overview

The Stuart Ross Communications Internship is a diversity initiative targeted at increasing the number of people from under-represented groups entering in the Public Relations, Communications and Marketing industries. Find out more about the internship and its background here.

The programme has been highly successful, and our interns have gone on to work in Communications both in the public sector and private sector organisations, including to some senior positions in organisations as varied as the NHS, the Metropolitan Police and the Arts Council and TfL.

Benefits

• Free travel on the TfL network for you and a nominee who lives in the same household.
• Discounted national rail and Eurostar travel
• Minimum 30 days annual leave (pro rata) plus public and bank holidays.
• Tax-efficient cycle-to-work programme
• Retail, health, leisure, and travel offers & many more

Duration - 11 months. Full-time, Monday to Friday.

Entry requirements

Applications for joining TfL in 2024 are sought from candidates with specific protected characteristics who are:

• From Black, Asian or other minority ethnic backgrounds and/or
• People with a disability (as defined by the Equality Act 2010) and/or
• Individuals from a disadvantaged socio-economic background 

Additionally, they must be either:

• A graduate with, or an undergraduate on track to achieve, a minimum 2:2 in any degree, or
• A non-graduate with no more than one year’s paid experience in the communications industry such as public relations, public affairs, marketing, stakeholder engagement, media, or other related fields.

The opportunity for those from ethnic minorities and/or having a disability to apply for the scheme is aligned with the positive action provisions of the Equality Act 2010. This allows for an employer to take certain actions where people who share a protected characteristic, such as being of a certain ethnic minority, are under-represented in participating in a particular activity. The Government guide to Positive Action in the Workplace sets out further detail on Section 158 ((General) positive action) of the Equality Act at Sections 8-9.

As a public sector body, TfL is required by Section 149 of the Equality Act 2010 to advance the Public Sector Equality Duty, by which we must not only take steps to eliminate discrimination, harassment and victimisation on grounds of protected characteristics, but must also seek to advance equality of opportunity between persons who share a relevant protected characteristic and those who do not share it.

Location

London/Hybrid. Up to 50 per cent of time can be spent working from home over a 4-week period. Hybrid working arrangements may alter subject to business requirements. This role benefits from regular in-office working.

What will I be doing?

Working in a fast-paced communications environment, you’ll learn the essential skills you need to start your career in the industry.  You will have the opportunity to develop your written and verbal communication skills to reach a range of different audiences, including customers, the media, businesses, stakeholder groups and politicians.   As part of the team, you’ll be involved from the outset in key projects, creating campaigns, influencing how customers use London’s transport network and helping to shape TfL’s reputation.   

During your 11-month internship, you will collaborate with teams across the organisation and gain a solid understanding of London’s transport network as well as building your skills in several specialities such as Public Relations, Public Affairs and Marketing.

You will be based in one of three teams, below, and may have the opportunity to undertake a placement in another area.

TfL Press Office

One of the UK's busiest press offices where you'll gain all the essential skills you need to start your career in Public Relations. You'll be involved in handling the big stories of the day affecting TfL as well as delivering dedicated stories and campaigns.  You’ll learn the full range of Public Relations skills needed to work in the industry, from writing press releases, dealing with journalists and crisis handling to generating ideas for high profile campaigns and organising media events. These could include campaigns to tackle sexual harassment on public transport, Art on the Underground or Poppy Day.

TfL Customer team

This team champions and is the voice of TfL’s customers, through marketing, customer information, behaviour change and income generating campaigns.  From day one you’ll be involved in beginning to end of campaigns, learn how to use the best channels to inform customers and influence their travel behaviours and be involved in using customer feedback, research and data to problem-solve customers’ frustrations and provide best-in-class customer experience.

TfL External Relations

This includes Government Relations and Stakeholder, Advocacy & Engagement who are responsible for building and maintaining productive partnerships with customer and representative groups, businesses, charities, politicians and many others.  During your time you will be provided with all the skills necessary for a career in Public Affairs, including developing relationships with key stakeholders, monitoring events and third-party positions on transport and related issues, responding to casework, ensuring feedback informs how we improve our policies and services and briefing senior TfL officials in preparation for meetings, events and speeches.

What do we look for?

Everything we do as an organisation is to ensure that our evolving city remains future proof for millions of Londoners. Our talented interns form a vital part of that vision, so it’s important that we find the best people to help us do this. We’re looking for people who are:

• Motivated to learn and gain experience during their internship at TfL
• Passionate about a career in communications, public relations, marketing or public affairs
• Team players who thrive on working with other people, as well as working independently 

What training and support will I get?

You will be supported with a wide range of on-the-job practical experience and placements as well a combination of training, mentoring, and networking.

You'll also receive one-to-one guidance throughout the programme from your:

• Placement manager: Responsible for your day-to-day management and support with your development
• Scheme sponsor: A senior manager who acts as a technical and professional adviser and has line manager responsibility
• Buddy: Usually, a previous intern or graduate
• Development adviser: Supports your professional development through providing career coaching and career progression at TfL

We are also a Disability Confident employer and operate a transparent recruitment process that removes barriers for candidates with a disability. Please let us know if you require reasonable adjustments for any stages of the application process or, if successful, to undertake the internship.

Sustainability

Intrinsic to TfL’s work ethos we operate in a sustainable way to protect and regenerate the natural world.  Our communications teams play a pivotal role in telling this story.

Interview and assessment process

You will receive support and information around each assessment stage as your progress through your application.

Please pay close attention to emails and deadlines provided noting you have 1 week to complete assessments, and we cannot re-issue these tests.  

Please let us know if you require reasonable adjustments for any stages of the application process or, if successful, to undertake the internship.

If you are invited to assessment, we will ask you to express a preference for which one of the three teams listed above you are interested in joining but this will not be a definitive confirmation that it will be the team you will be placed with, if successful.

Inclusive Recruitment Process 

We operate a transparent recruitment process that removes barriers for candidates with a disability. Please let us know if you require reasonable adjustments for any stages of the application process. 

We're a Disability Confident employer, and we offer guaranteed interviews to candidates who apply via the scheme where the minimum criteria for skills, knowledge and experience have been met.  

In High Volume campaigns including Graduate, Apprentice and Intern recruitment the minimum criteria we set is achieving a pass mark in our first stage assessments, adopting a proportionate approach as part of the Disability Confident scheme.