Could your organisation help the next generation of Black health data scientists flourish?

Health Data Research UK (HDR UK), in partnership with the UK Health Data Research Alliance and the 10,000 Black Interns Foundation, is inviting organisations to learn more about becoming a host organisation for the HDR UK Black Internship Programme.

The programme was established to help address the underrepresentation of Black people within health data science and to give talented and motivated individuals the opportunity to develop their knowledge, gain valuable workplace experience and build their careers in STEM.

We are inviting organisations from across academia, the NHS, industry, charities, government and the wider health and research sector to join this information webinar and discover how they can get involved.

About the webinar

This session is aimed at organisations that are considering hosting a Black health data science intern and would like to understand more about the programme, the experience of hosting an intern and the support available.

The webinar will provide an opportunity to hear directly from the programme team about how the internship works, what is expected of host organisations and the difference that participating can make to both interns and organisations.

We will cover:

  • The Black Internship Programme – an overview of the programme and its aims.
  • The host organisation experience – what is involved in hosting an intern and how organisations can create a meaningful and valuable internship experience.
  • Support from HDR UK – including operational support before, during and after the internship, mentoring guidance, cohort-wide training and networking opportunities.
  • Recruitment and selection process.
  • Benefits for organisations – opportunities to engage with emerging talent, develop staff mentoring skills, contribute to a more diverse workforce and connect with a wider health data science talent pool.
  • Programme impact – what the programme has achieved since its inception in 2020.
  • Key dates and next steps.

Why get involved?

Hosting an intern is an opportunity to make a tangible contribution to developing a more diverse health data science workforce.

The UK has a growing need for skilled health data scientists, with the field playing an increasingly important role in shaping the future of health and care. By providing early-career talent with practical experience, mentoring and exposure to the workplace, host organisations can help talented individuals develop the confidence, skills and networks needed to flourish in STEM careers.

For organisations, the programme also provides an opportunity to engage with emerging talent, bring new perspectives into teams and contribute to a sector-wide commitment to improving diversity and inclusion.

The programme already brings together host organisations from a broad range of sectors, including universities and research institutes, NHS organisations, charities, government departments, industry and professional organisations.

Who should attend?

The webinar is particularly relevant to organisations that:

  • Work in health data science, health research, digital health, healthcare or related STEM fields.
  • Are interested in developing early-career talent.
  • Want to contribute to improving diversity and representation within health data science.
  • Have a suitable team, project or research challenge that could form the basis of an eight-week internship.
  • Are considering becoming a host organisation but would like to understand the commitment and support available before making a pledge.

Whether you are completely new to the programme or have previously considered hosting an intern, this webinar is an opportunity to find out more, ask questions and explore how your organisation could get involved.

If you have questions about the programme or hosting an intern, you can contact the programme team at blackinternprog@hdruk.ac.uk.