The Silent Suit:
a celebration of quiet strength

In November and December 2024, the 10,000 Interns Foundation launched The Silent Suit – a campaign born from a simple but powerful vision: to spotlight the untold stories of Black professionals across the UK.

Conceived and led by our Comms & Marketing team, the campaign brought to life the ambition, resilience, and quiet strength that defines so many young Black individuals navigating the world of work today. Through a striking series of black-and-white portraits of our alumni, we honoured those who have not only broken into industries where they’ve historically been underrepresented, but who have done so with unwavering presence and purpose.

Each portrait in The Silent Suit told a story – of rejection faced and overcome, of rooms entered with courage, of ambition that refused to be dimmed. These weren’t just images; they were visual testimonies of what it means to show up, time and again, in spaces not built for you.

The campaign challenged assumptions about what leadership and success look like. It honoured the power of subtlety and the strength of showing up even when the odds say otherwise. The individuals featured weren’t there to fit in – they were there to lead, to reimagine, and to open doors for others coming behind them.

At 10K, we believe that progress is about more than access. It’s about belonging. Since 2020, we’ve supported over 7,000 Black students and graduates in accessing paid internships across 35+ sectors. The Silent Suit campaign marked a moment to reflect not just on that impact, but on the spirit behind it – the perseverance, belief, and brilliance of the talent we work with every day.

We’re incredibly proud of this campaign, and grateful to the talented creatives who helped bring the vision to life. Special thanks to photographer Aaron Imuere, videographer and editor Rhys Buchanan, and spoken word artist Bradley Philip-Bayliss, whose collaboration elevated the storytelling and helped us share this message with the depth and dignity it deserved.