Taylor Bennett Foundation and Healthcare Communications Association launch new specialist programme to widen access to healthcare communications

The Taylor Bennett Foundation (TBF), the UK charity dedicated to increasing ethnic diversity in public relations and communications, and the Healthcare Communications Association (HCA) have today announced the launch of a new Healthcare Communications Training Programme. 

The four-week, full-time, paid programme will run as a pilot from April 2026 and is now open for candidate applications. It is designed to support aspiring professionals from Black, Asian, and ethnically diverse professionals interested in healthcare communications – a sector that plays a vital role in shaping public understanding, patient trust, clinical excellence and health outcomes.  

The pilot programme is being delivered with the support of six leading healthcare communications agencies: Virgo Health, Ignition Consulting; Mearns & Pike; Oxford PharmaGenesis; Resonant Group and Synergy Vision.  

Together, TBF, HCA and the participating agencies aim to help build a more representative talent pipeline for the healthcare communications industry, ensuring that health communications and campaigns better reflect the communities and professionals they serve. 

Structured around three core pillars – developing networks, gaining practical knowledge, and building employability skills – the programme will provide trainees with hands-on exposure to healthcare communications, alongside mentoring, masterclasses and practical project work. No prior communications or science background is required; instead, the programme focuses on potential, curiosity and interest in healthcare and communications. 

The Healthcare Communications Training Programme builds on TBF’s 17-year track record of delivering award-winning training initiatives, through which more than 1,400 professionals have launched careers in communications.   

“At a time when divisions in society are widening, the need to build workplaces – and an industry – where everyone can belong has never been clearer. Our work has never felt more urgent. I am immensely proud of what our community of colleagues, alumni, partners, and trustees has achieved.” said Koray Camgöz, CEO of the Taylor Bennett Foundation.

“The life sciences sector is a critical industry for the UK economy and also one which is incredibly personal, touching all our lives and communities, so it’s absolutely vital that health communicators are as diverse as the stakeholders they need to engage. This is especially important when we consider the breadth of experiences, backgrounds and beliefs patients and healthcare professionals bring. And it’s wonderful to partner with the Healthcare Communications Association and be able to bring together their expertise in health comms and our heritage in inclusion.” – said Avril Lee, Chair at the Taylor Bennett Foundation, and a healthcare communications consultant.

Mike Dixon, CEO, Healthcare Communications Association added: “We are delighted to be working with the Taylor Bennet Foundation on this programme. TBF shares our values and has been so instrumental in providing practical support to help bring more ethnically diverse young professionals into the communications sector.”  
 
He continued: “Healthcare Communications is an amazing sector to be part of, making a real difference to how people hear about, understand and are able to access healthcare. It is important that we remain a diverse sector to best support the diverse communities and professionals with whom we communicate. We look forward to welcoming this programme’s candidates, so they can experience for themselves the opportunities and career satisfaction our sector has to offer.” 

Applications are now open to Black, Asian, and ethnically diverse candidates aged 18+ who have the right to work in the UK and are interested in exploring a career in healthcare communications. The programme is full-time and in-person, running Monday to Friday. For more information and to apply, visit the website. 

4 min read

By Bella Beeching, Senior Strategist, Virgo Health

Seven years on from the seismic impact of #MeToo, global studies reveal a concerning trend: young men are becoming less progressive, and a growing gender attitude gap is emerging.

Amid this shift, the resurgence of the “manosphere” (a network of hyper-masculine influencers) shows how many are retreating to ultra-traditional ideals in search of direction, in the absence of a compelling new male narrative.

But in cultural resistance, a different narrative is taking shape: the Bronaissance. From therapy-positive podcasts and high-profile athletes like Lewis Hamilton speaking openly about depression, to mainstream celebrations of emotional vulnerability and male friendship, the Bronaissance echoes the rise of “girlhood,” re-examining and redefining masculinity in more expansive, positive terms.

As expressions of masculinity evolve, the question for communicators is clear: how do we engage men in ways that support emotional openness, challenge outdated expectations, and inspire more proactive approaches to health?
 

The Persistent Engagement Gap

Men’s health has long posed a challenge for public health messaging. Data consistently shows that men are less likely than women to seek medical advice, attend screenings, or access mental health support. In the UK, three in four suicides are by men, often linked to undiagnosed or untreated mental health issues, and men are more than twice as likely to die prematurely from cardiovascular disease, lung cancer, and liver disease.
 

On top of these challenges is the growing influence of the “manosphere,” which often discourages men from seeking help or expressing vulnerability. Figures like Andrew Tate or the incel subculture featured in the Adolescence series are extreme examples, promoting a rigid, hyper-masculine worldview where emotional openness is seen as weakness.
 

But culture rarely moves in just one direction. Enter the Bronaissance.

Where Culture Is Leading the Way

This cultural shift is already being reflected and amplified across media, public discourse, and healthcare. 

Campaigns like Movember cleverly blend humour, emotional storytelling, and camaraderie to spotlight issues like prostate and testicular cancer, as well as suicide prevention. Mental health platforms like Headspace and Calm now offer male-specific content designed to lower emotional barriers. Podcasts such as The Man Enough Podcast and The Diary of a CEO regularly explore topics like burnout, vulnerability, and grief, giving men permission to engage with their emotional lives.

At the same time, celebrity interviews and documentaries are shedding light on issues like depression, addiction, and chronic illness, normalising public conversations about health.

How Healthcare Communications Can Respond

For healthcare communicators, this isn’t just a cultural side note; it’s a real opportunity to reshape how masculinity is framed in the context of wellbeing. That means destigmatising emotional expression, encouraging early intervention, and redefining strength to include a more holistic understanding of masculinity. To do that meaningfully, there are three key areas we must focus on:

1. How We Communicate

Let’s start with language. Messaging must move away from stoic, clinical tones and instead acknowledge the emotional realities men face. Preventive behaviours and help-seeking shouldn’t be framed as weakness but as acts of self-respect and strength.

Tone also matters. An empathetic, culturally attuned, and condescension-free voice is more likely to resonate and cut through.

2. Who Delivers the Message

It’s not just what we say, it’s who says it. Authenticity and alignment are critical. Whether it’s a public figure, creator, or mental health advocate, the messenger should reflect the values, tone, and lived experience behind the message.

Social and digital platforms offer both risks and rewards. While some spaces amplify toxic masculinity, others foster community, relatability, and real connection. By thoughtfully matching the right voices to the right messages on the right platforms, healthcare communicators can build trust and normalise help-seeking in a way that feels genuine.

3. Reflecting the Full Spectrum of Male Identity

We must also recognise the diversity within male audiences. Masculinity is shaped by race, class, sexuality, and culture, and these factors influence how men experience and express their health needs.

Our messages must be shaped through an intersectional lens if they’re to resonate authentically.

We’re already seeing encouraging signs. Public health campaigns like NHS initiatives and cancer charities such as Prostate Cancer UK’s ‘Let’s Talk About the Hard Things’ are leaning into emotional storytelling and tackling taboos head-on.

Similarly, pharma brands targeting male-specific conditions (from erectile dysfunction to prostate cancer) are beginning to move beyond medical facts alone. They’re weaving in stories about identity, relationships, and self-worth because that’s what truly connects.

A Moment Worth Seizing

The Bronaissance represents more than a cultural moment. It’s a call to action. For healthcare communicators, it’s a chance to engage men in ways that are honest, relevant, and lasting.

As we reflect on this shift, we need to ask ourselves:
 

1. In what ways do your campaigns create space for men to express vulnerability without stigma?
2. What assumptions about male audiences might be limiting your ability to connect authentically?
3. Who are the voices and role models you’re elevating and do they reflect this new masculinity?
    

The momentum is here, but it’s up to us to carry it forward. If we want to truly connect with male audiences, we need to stop speaking in outdated codes and start meeting men with empathy and relevance.
 

This isn’t just a better way to engage; it’s the way forward.

We’re thrilled to share that Virgo Health has been named  Communications Consultancy of the Year at the Communique Awards 2025, one of the most recognised Healthcare Awards in the UK. 

The judges praised us for “Showing the clear impact”, “team integration” and demonstrating “what they do and how it is achieved”. Calling us “Very impressive and real!”  

Thanks, judges! 

We took away four awards on the night, including large agency and three commendations in Excellence in Media Relation, Excellence in Social Media and Excellence in Public Health Communications. 

To learn that our Being Human approach to building an agency shines through is truly special. This tops off an incredible year for Virgo and we couldn’t be the agency we are without all our brilliant people and clients. Each and every person makes our culture something truly special. Learn more about Virgo’s culture in our  Life at Virgo  page. 

Over the weekend, we launched ‘The Most Valuable Portrait’—a powerful campaign from Specsavers Home Visits in partnership with Carers UK.

Valued symbolically at £184 billion—the estimated worth of unpaid care in the UK, equivalent to funding a second NHS—the portrait honours the immense contributions of carers who often go unseen.

Around 1 in 10 people in England and Wales are unpaid carers, but the true figure is much higher, as many people don’t immediately recognise themselves as carers.  In fact, over a third (36%) take more than three years to realise they’ve taken on this role, meaning they may be missing out on vital support available to them.

After its unveiling at the Saatchi Gallery, the portrait was displayed publicly at London’s South Bank, encased in a secure box and protected by 24-hour security. A striking way to make the invisible, visible.

Created by world-renowned artist Colin Davidson, the portrait features inspiring carer Jaycee le Bouche, representing the millions of carers across the UK.

Specsavers Home Visits witness the dedication of unpaid carers daily. Through this campaign, we aim to raise awareness and celebrate their extraordinary efforts.

The portrait has now been put up for sale via an online auction, with all proceeds going to Carers UK.

Watch the campaign film here – The Most Valuable Portrait | Specsavers UK