The science correspondent is Pallab Ghosh.
Leading firms are helping black and minority students get jobs as chemistry researchers.
An investigation found that racism was prevalent in chemistry research.
In the UK, there is only one black chemistry professor and black people in the field are less likely to get promoted.
The Royal Society of chemistry is leading the initiative.
Helen Pain said the aim was to make a step change in getting black people to pursue a career in science.
The investigation found that talented students and early stage researchers were leaving the profession at every stage of their careers because of racism.
Minority ethnic researchers are less likely to get grant funding and are paid less than their white counterparts.
The average grant for a minority ethnic chemical sciences researcher was more than double that of a white colleague.
The situation in chemical sciences wasn't the only thing that was investigated.
A target was set by an independent review in 2016 to have one director from a minority ethnic background on every board by the year 2021.
A number of chemistry-led industries were shocked by the report.
It inspired them to act in a way that can make a difference.
Several firms are working with the RSC to provide black and minority ethnic students with mentoring, industrial experience and the opportunity to apply for internships over three years.
Among them are RSSL, Syngenta and others.
95 students are about to start the scheme. She is a student at Trinity College in Dublin. She was born in Dublin to Nigerian parents. The scheme will help her get into chemistry.
My parents didn't have the network that many people in my course have because I am a first generation immigrant.
Some people were talking about how they got internship through family friends. I am not able to say the same because of my background.
Victor has been applying for jobs in the UK since he came from Nigeria to study a masters degree in pharmaceutical science at Robert Gordon University.
He has applied for over a dozen jobs. They have all been unsuccessful.
There are many organizations that say they are for diversity and equal opportunities. He said that none of them actually do.
He thinks that the Broadening Horizons scheme will change his job prospects.
It brings me closer to some of the companies that I would love to work with.
I will be able to communicate with the main brains in these companies one-on-one and I will be able to express myself.
One of the driving forces behind the initiative was Ijeoma Uchegbu, who is a professor at the University College London.
Increasing diversity in chemistry is good for the economy.
It's not really about social justice. It's important to get the best quality outputs. It's not possible to know your customer if the personnel in the company are of different types.
You are more profitable if you have ethnic minority leadership.
That is a view supported by the Global Vice President for skincare research at the company.
He said that a disproportionate loss of talent is a loss to the economy.
Experience is what the Broadening Horizons programme offers.
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