For many young people, getting their first experience of the workplace can be an important step towards building a career.

But knowing where to start isn't always straightforward, particularly when it comes to finding opportunities to develop practical skills and build professional networks.

That's why Kaplan is proud to continue supporting the 10,000 Black Interns (10KBI) programme, helping Black students and graduates gain valuable workplace experience and explore the opportunities available to them.

This year, seven interns have joined Kaplan in Manchester for a 12-week programme, gaining an insight into how a professional education provider operates and the range of roles that contribute to the learner experience.

Rather than being limited to one team, the interns have the opportunity to spend time across different areas of the business and learn from colleagues across Kaplan.

Experiencing life at Kaplan

During their time with Kaplan, the interns have taken part in several sessions designed to introduce them to the workplace and help them settle into their new environment.

These have covered areas such as business presentation and writing, customer service, safeguarding, LinkedIn, CV writing, cyber awareness, project management, team working, confidence, and personal impact.

They've also had the chance to see how different parts of Kaplan connect, giving them a better understanding of the people and processes behind the services provided to learners and employers.

For Jayce Blackwood, one of the interns, seeing how different parts of Kaplan connect has been a particularly valuable part of the experience.

“Everyone I have met has been very kind and helpful, showing all the different software and giving me an insight into how all the different departments work individually and how it all links together to become the Kaplan service users' experience.”

The programme has also given interns opportunities to step outside their usual areas of experience and try something new.

Developing practical skills

One of the biggest themes to emerge from the interns' feedback has been the practical nature of the experience.

Alongside learning about Kaplan, they've had opportunities to use skills in areas such as Excel, presentation, communication, teamwork, and digital tools. Rather than simply learning about these areas, they've been able to put them into practice through tasks, discussions, and projects.

For Ahmed Aden, being given the opportunity to contribute ideas and take part in discussions with colleagues has been an important part of that experience.

“I think the communication skills I have got from my time in Kaplan, from sharing ideas to pitching a view to a board, will be useful in the future.”

Bolanle Akintola has also particularly enjoyed opportunities to get involved in activities that have challenged her to communicate and respond in a professional setting.

“A highlight has been taking part in sales pitches. These have helped me become more confident when speaking to others, presenting ideas and thinking on my feet.”

The experience has given interns opportunities to take what they know and use it in situations that are closer to the realities of working life.

Exploring the world of marketing

Spending time with Kaplan's Marketing team gave the interns an opportunity to see what goes on behind the campaigns and content they encounter as consumers.

They were introduced to areas including campaign creation, paid and organic content, social media marketing, the marketing funnel, and the different teams involved in delivering marketing activity.

For Joana Ikponmwosa Edomioya, being able to take part in practical marketing activities was a particular highlight:

“My favourite part was when we were given tasks to do, as I love interacting. I also enjoyed learning the differences between paid and organic content.”

The experience also gave the interns a broader understanding of the work that happens behind a marketing campaign. Mike Bett particularly enjoyed learning about how different roles contribute to Kaplan's marketing activity:

“My favourite part was campaign ad creation. I learnt about the Kaplan content team and their different work specifics.”

Their time with the Marketing team also prompted questions about how marketing supports the wider business, from attracting and retaining clients to improving the learner purchasing journey.

Learning through creativity and technology

For some interns, working with Kaplan's Learning Design and Development team provided an opportunity to explore how creative ideas can be brought to life using digital tools.

Davies Yeboah worked with the team to create a video exploring the pressure to know what you want to do with your life in your 20s.

The project gave him the chance to explore a topic he was interested in while gaining experience of creating content for a specific audience.

“They provided a supportive environment that allowed me to try new tools such as Google Notebook and CapCut to bring my idea to life.”

Other interns also had opportunities to combine creativity and technology, with Ahmed creating a video to raise awareness of mental health using the same tools.

Projects like these showed the interns how technology and creativity can work together to communicate ideas effectively, while giving them the opportunity to take their ideas from an initial concept through to a finished piece of work.

Seeing where a career could lead

Perhaps one of the most valuable parts of the internship is the opportunity to explore careers that interns may not previously have considered.

Kaplan is a professional education provider, but the experience has shown the interns that there's much more to the organisation than teaching and training.

Ranging from technology and operations to marketing, customer service, learning design, and project management, the programme has introduced them to a wide range of roles and given them a chance to see the variety of work that happens across the organisation.

For Favour Anajemba, spending time with the Learning Design and Development team meant seeing a side of education that she hadn't encountered before.

“A huge highlight was working with the Learning Design and Development team - seeing the behind-the-scenes magic of how course material is built and delivered to students gave me a whole new appreciation of educational design and learning management systems.”

Seeing this variety has also helped some interns think more clearly about their next steps. Jayce reflected on how this has influenced his own thinking:

“The experience working in an office among different teams is invaluable, something I likely would not have been able to get until after I finished my degree. It gives me much more clarity as to what careers are available to me after I graduate next year.”

That insight can be just as valuable as the skills developed during the internship. Having the opportunity to see different roles first-hand can help interns understand what they enjoy, what they're good at, and what they might want to pursue next.

Building confidence for the future

While the interns have gained technical and professional skills, their feedback also highlights the personal impact of the experience.

When asked to describe their experience at Kaplan, they used words including insightful, educative, interactive, exciting, and industry-standard.

For Bolanle, the experience has provided an opportunity to take on challenges and reflect on how much she has grown during her time at Kaplan.

“Overall, my time at Kaplan so far has been a great opportunity to learn, challenge myself and grow both personally and professionally.”

These experiences can help build confidence in ways that extend beyond the internship itself.

Creating access to opportunity

At its heart, the 10KBI programme is about creating access to opportunities that can help talented people take their next step.

Kaplan's involvement forms part of our wider commitment to equality, diversity, and inclusion, while giving interns the opportunity to gain experience, build professional networks, and learn more about the world of work.

The 2026 cohort's experience in Manchester demonstrates the value of giving people the opportunity to learn by doing.

And while the programme is designed to help interns build their careers, Kaplan benefits too. Fresh perspectives and different experiences can challenge the way we think about our work and help us better understand the people and communities we serve.

Looking ahead

As the 10KBI interns continue their journey at Kaplan, they'll have the opportunity to build on what they've experienced so far as they prepare for the next stage of their careers.

For Kaplan, the programme is another important step in our commitment to creating more equitable access to opportunity and supporting talented people as they begin their careers.

We look forward to seeing where the 2026 cohort takes their experiences next.

Find out more about Kaplan's commitment to supporting underrepresented talent through the 10,000 Interns Foundation.