I first discovered Black Professional UK (BPU) in January 2024 when a friend shared a BBC Scotland post-production internship. Excited about the opportunity, I registered with BPU and applied. As a recent graduate with all my media experience gained outside the UK, this internship was a game-changer. BPU played a crucial role, of not only connecting me to the opportunity but also organizing a mock interview that helped me secure the role. My experience at BBC Scotland was incredible, offering exposure to cutting-edge technology and talented professionals. After the internship, I was offered another BBC opportunity. My advice to future interns: speak up and share your unique insights—they matter.

My name is Oluwakemi Akiode, and I first heard about BPS (at the time) in 2022 from a friend. I interned with Tesco Bank as an IT Analyst between June and December 2022, a vacancy that was posted on the BPS website, and I must commend the team for providing a valuable pre-interview session where they guided us through expectations during the interview and shared tips on how to approach your interview with confidence. As an international student from Nigeria, navigating the UK job market felt daunting at first. However, the program provided me with invaluable skills in systems analysis, problem-solving, and teamwork, along with mentorship and a supportive community that helped me overcome challenges and build the confidence I needed to succeed. Today, I’m proud to continue my career in service management, and grateful for the foundation the internship gave me. My counsel to future interns would be to embrace a learning mindset; do not be afraid to ask questions and seek feedback.

My name is Emmanuella Adefuye and I heard about BPU from a friend who had been successful the year before. In October 2023 after failing in my original application for a different company, BPU reached out to me and said that they had an internship opportunity and thought my skills would match. This internship turned out to be a role as a Colleague Outcomes Intern at Tesco Bank. Throughout my internship I gained communication, marketing critical thinking and networking skills. BPU kept in contact with me throughout the 3 months and I was given weekly support. I truly appreciate this. At the end of my experience these skills stuck with me and helped me secure a permanent position at Tesco Bank. My advice to anyone starting this journey is to not give up at the first hurdle and make the most of any opportunity you have.