Blurred

Blurred has significantly revamped its internship programme to focus on social mobility and diverse representation within the industry: initially aimed at providing valuable experiences, the scheme now also serves as a pathway to permanent employment, with an emphasis on inclusivity and accessibility – in 2024, 46 per cent of all internship applicants were from ethnic minority backgrounds. The latter is enabled by Blurred offering both real-world and virtual internships to eliminate geographical and financial barriers, helping it to attract a diverse pool of candidates.

Every intern has lifetime access to the company’s fortnightly training programme, even if they go on to work for a competitor. And beyond the internship programme itself, Blurred has partnered with various organisations and charities to support entry-level recruits via shorter placements.

All of Blurred’s interns over six years have stated that the programme “met or exceeded their expectations” and all “would recommend it”. Meanwhile, the scheme’s alumni network provides ongoing support for those interns who do not take on a permanent role, including CV advice and mentorship, underscoring the lasting impact of the programme and its role in fostering industry change.

Judges comment: “Offers an immersive experience that gets interns involved in real agency work from day one.”