When opportunity is created, talent flourishes
The independent Health Data Science Black Internship Programme review, led by Advance HE, sets out years of practical impact and lays out steps to scale what works.
Five years after launching the Black Internship Programme (BIP), we are delighted to share the findings of the independent Health Data Science BIP review led by Advance HE. Covering the programme’s first four years (2021–2024), the evaluation affirms a simple but powerful truth: when opportunity is created, talent flourishes and delivers meaningful benefits for both interns and host organisations.
The review was commissioned and published by HDR UK as an independent, evidence-led assessment. It is intended both as a stocktake of what has been achieved and as a practical guide for future development.
In its first four years, the BIP has placed 308 interns across 98 host organisations, offering paid placements combined with targeted training, mentoring and cohort-based support. The review reports strong satisfaction from participants and hosts and concludes that the programme “is a successful, impactful programme for both interns and host organisations.”
Key findings from the Advance HE review include:
- High participant and host satisfaction with the programme’s combination of real-world projects, structured training and ongoing mentorship.
- Clear career impact for alumni, with a substantial proportion progressing into roles or further study in data science and technology after their placement.
- Operational value for hosts, who report fresh perspectives, tangible project outputs and benefits to inclusive recruitment practices.
- Practical next steps to scale, with a set of clear recommendations as the BIP enters its next phase.
Professor Martin Levermore, Chair of the Health Data Science Black Internship
Programme Advisory Group, and Professor Andrew Morris, Director of HDR UK, said:
“This review should not be seen as a conclusion but as a call to action. Scale what works, sustain what matters and ensure the next generation of health data scientists is as diverse and dynamic as the challenges they will solve.”
Join us as we celebrate the programme’s first five years, hear more about the review and build momentum for the next five years of inclusive innovation in health data science at our online event on Thursday 4 December 2025. Hear from interns, host organisations and sector leaders.
Register to learn more about the review
Organisations interested in hosting an intern in 2026 can register interest via the host pledge page.
