10,000 Interns Foundation Celebrates Landmark Achievement: 10,000 Internships Opportunities Delivered Across the UK
On the 23rd October, The 10,000 Interns Foundation marked a defining moment in UK history at its 10K Milestone Celebration, held at the iconic Emirates Stadium. The event brought together alumni, employers and supporters to celebrate an unprecedented achievement: the creation of 10,000 paid internship opportunities for Black students and graduates across the UK in just five years.
The evening was filled with powerful moments that captured the true meaning of community and progress – when opportunity meets access and when representation transforms into impact.
Rebecca Ajulu-Bushell, CEO, The 10,000 Interns Foundation
Established in 2020, the Foundation set out to tackle underrepresentation and drive inclusion within our UK workforces. Five years on, the Foundation has successfully partnered with over 1,300 employers across 35 sectors, each dedicated to building fairer, more inclusive workplaces where diverse talent can thrive.
The celebration featured inspiring contributions from:
Speakers:
Chanté Joseph, Host and Presenter
Alexia W. Watson-Yarngo, 2024 Alexander Paul Award Winner
Ayo Fasanya, Alumni and member of the first 100 Black Interns cohort
Dawid Konotey-Ahulu, Co-founder and Trustee of The 10,000 Interns Foundation
Rebecca Achieng Ajulu-Bushell, CEO of The 10,000 Interns Foundation
Creative Contributors:
Maureen Onwunali, Poet and Performer, When I Give Up My Seat for You on the Tube
Daisy Ifama, Director and Producer, There Was a Sofa
Remi Aaron, Editor, There Was a Sofa
Freddie Hutton-Mills BA, Filmmaker, 10Kin5
Aiden Clayton-Crosse, Alumni and Voiceover Artist, There Was a Sofa
Performers:
The Compozers
Bussa
The evening also celebrated Clement Scott, who interned at GSK this summer and was named the 2025 Alexander Paul Award winner.
The 10,000 Interns Foundation extends heartfelt thanks to its event sponsors for helping make this historic evening possible and for their continued commitment to building a more inclusive future of work.
Altwater
Wells Fargo
Man Group
Generation Foundation
The Foundation also extends sincere thanks to the teams at Aztec and Arsenal Football Club for their support in bringing the celebration to life.
The milestone celebration was more than a moment of recognition – it was a reminder of what can happen when opportunity meets commitment. As the Foundation moves beyond its founding goal, the focus turns to sustaining this impact and expanding its reach even further.
Dawid Konotey-Ahulu, Co-founder and Trustee of the 10,000 Interns Foundation, added:
“This talent belongs everywhere. And when you open the door wide enough, history walks through it.”
As the Foundation looks to the future, its mission remains clear: to continue building a future where inclusion is lived, and equity is embedded into the systems that shape work.
That’s the workplace 10KIF is building – one programme, one partnership, and one internship at a time.
