Race and Ethnicity

The University of Manchester Careers Service is proud to work with and support students from our diverse student population. We understand that intersections of advantage and disadvantage may exist across race, ethnicity, sex, disability, class and sexuality to name a few. We strive to promote inclusivity and representation and work closely with students, graduates and employers to ensure opportunities are equitable and inclusive for all of our students.

Organisations and employers are increasingly aware of the positive effects of hiring diverse workforces. The promotion of their commitment to equality, diversity and inclusion remains a key focal point.

As a result, employers are particularly keen to work with the Careers Service to actively promote opportunities to students and graduates from Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic backgrounds, who are currently underrepresented within their organisations.

Finding employers committed to race or ethnic diversity

Graduate Employers

Employer events, fairs and company websites can often be a good way of finding out how committed they are to employing people from different backgrounds. Many employers will have an equality statement on their site or a section on equality and diversity. You can also use company employee profiles, LinkedIn or Glassdoor to gauge the diversity and work culture of the current workforce. The following resources list graduate employers that have signed up to specific race diversity initiatives.

Internships, Work Experience, Networks & Events

A number of networks, programmes, internships and insight days exist that are specifically designed for students from minority ethnic backgrounds. Below are some opportunities you may be interested in exploring further.

  • Aspiring Solicitors Committed to inclusion and diversity to the legal profession for people form underrepresented groups including Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic, LGBTQ+ and disabled applicants. Offer work experience, competitions and network events.
  • Bank of England African-Caribbean Scholarship
  • The Black Excellence Network Challenges the racial disparities seen between black students and other ethnicities within UK higher education and competitive courses. Also support the professional and personal development of current black university students nationwide in their journey towards their future careers.
  • Civil Service The Civil Service run 2 diversity internships – the Early Diversity Internship Programme and the Summer Diversity Internship programme for students from the following backgrounds: Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic (BAME), socially or economically disadvantaged or consider yourself to have a disability.
  • Creative Access Advertise jobs in the creative sector as well as insight days and internships for Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic students and graduates, currently underrepresented across the creative sectors. Also provide guidance and 1-2-1 advice to students who register with them.
  • Colour in tech Offers a fellowship programme to help Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic undergraduates and graduates connect with start-ups to get experience.
  • Google Top Black Talent Programme Deadline is normally October.
  • GROW Mentoring Offer 1-1 mentoring to aspiring lawyers. Committed to diversity, mobility and social inclusion.
  • SEO London Provide information on organisations seeking to recruit more Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic candidates. Information on vacancies and bespoke programmes, networking and insight events.
  • RARE Provides application support, and recruit for bespoke work experience placements.
  • Taylor Bennet Foundation Training programme, mentoring programme and work placement programme.
  • Uncovering Prospects An annual event for high potential students of black heritage, held in Central London, interested in exploring internship opportunities in Professional Services and Banking & Finance in London.
  • Windsor Fellowship Advertises a number of Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic specific internships with top graduate employers as well as their own Leadership programme.
  • Freshfields Stephen Lawrence Scholarship Scheme Aimed at redressing the underrepresentation of Black males working within large commercial law firms and City careers.
  • Slaughter and May Diversity scholarship for legal careers
  • 10,000 Interns Foundation Offer paid work experience and training and development to Black applicants across a range of sector including accountancy, construction and housing and property, engineering, healthcare management, legal services, management consultancy, media, technology and not for profit.
  • Lawcareers.net Diversity Access Schemes Law-related as well as national organisations.
  • Bright Network Virtual work experience for students and graduates. Featuring employers from a diverse range of sectors including not-for-profit, consultancy, finance and technology. Opportunity to meet employers and work on timed tasks to develop commercial awareness, communication and problem-solving skills.
  • Forage Virtual work experience with leading employers and organisation, developing key employability skills.
  • Grassroots Programme from the Black Solicitors Network. Working in partnership with the Universities of Manchester, Manchester Metropolitan, Salford, Bolton and Linklater’s to increase access for Black applicants to the legal profession.
  • Women in the City Afro Caribbean Network (WCAN) – a young and exciting diversity platform created for and by young black female students.
  • AFBE-UK Association for Black and Minority Ethnic Engineers Provides support and promotes higher achievements in Education & Engineering particularly among students and professionals from minority ethnic backgrounds.
  • Blueprint for all Aims to help young Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic people gain the knowledge, skills & qualifications needed to pursue their chosen career and provides a bursary for higher education study.
  • Black Talent in Business Programme (PwC) A three day programme intended to foster black undergraduate talent in an underrepresented industry.
  • Health Data Science Black Internship Programme Helps support Black health data scientists by providing opportunities to flourish in STEM careers.

Support and Advice

The Equality Act, states that it is illegal for an employer to discriminate against you because of your race or ethnicity. The Act protects you from direct or indirect discrimination and from harassment or victimization on the basis of your race. If you would like to find out more about your rights at work, the following websites may be of interest.