SEGRO signs up to campaign to provide opportunities for 10,000 black interns in UK companies
SEGRO has signed up to a scheme which aims to address the under representation of young black talent in Britain’s leading companies by offering paid work experience to 10,000 black graduate interns over the next five years.
The 10,000 Black Interns initiative (#10000BlackInterns) has been launched to help transform the horizons and prospects of thousands of young black people with the opportunity to gain invaluable experience, training and mentorship to help provide the foundation for more black people to pursue careers in business.
Following the success of an initial 100 Black Interns programme aimed at the fund management industry, the #10000BlackInterns scheme is engaging with market-leading companies from a wide range of sectors as a way of attracting a more diverse range of talent to their industry.
SEGRO is among a number of progressive real estate companies to commit to #10000BlackInterns and will be welcoming two interns to the business in Winter 2021 and a further two in Summer 2022.
David Sleath, SEGRO’s Chief Executive, said:
“We always aspire to challenge ourselves as a business and an industry on how we can go further to promote and encourage greater diversity and inclusion, and joining a coordinated campaign such as #10000BlackInterns gives us a great opportunity to do this and make a positive and enduring change.
“We’re proud of the work we are doing in actively involving and supporting individuals and communities through a wide range of community-focused initiatives across the areas in which we operate, but we know we can, collectively, do more. We look forward to welcoming our interns next Winter.”
In addition to #10,000BlackInterns, SEGRO plays an active role in partnering with organisations such as Pathways to Property, an organisation that is widening the access to the real estate profession by raising awareness of young people about the vast range of careers available within the industry, and Patchwork Foundation, a charity that equips young people from disadvantaged and under- represented backgrounds to actively participate in democracy and civil society and inspire careers in government and the public sector.
In 2020 SEGRO celebrated its Centenary year by launching a £10 million fund to support charity and community projects in areas across the UK and Continental Europe over the next decade. Initially, the provided immediate, urgent support to local communities who were particularly vulnerable to the impacts of the pandemic, but has now refocused on supporting organisations who support members of disadvantaged communities back into education, training and employment.
ABOUT SEGRO
SEGRO is a UK Real Estate Investment Trust (REIT), and a leading owner, manager and developer of modern warehouses and industrial property. It owns or manages 8.1 million square metres of space (88 million square feet) valued at £13.3 billion serving customers from a wide range of industry sectors. Its properties are located in and around major cities and at key transportation hubs in the UK and in seven other European countries.
For 100 years SEGRO has been creating the space that enables extraordinary things to happen. From modern big box warehouses, used primarily for regional, national and international distribution hubs, to urban warehousing located close to major population centres and business districts, it provides high-quality assets that allow its customers to thrive.