Are you an employer?
The Department for Education has funded this programme. Both Cumberland and Westmorland and Furness are working also with, NDTi, DFN Project Search and BASE. This programme is designed to support more young people with additional needs to have greater choice and control over opportunities that prepare them for adult life and enable them to gain long-term meaningful employment. Currently, only 5.1% of people with special educational needs and disabilities gain permanent paid employment in the UK, compared to 80% of their peers.
What are Supported Internships?
A Supported Internship is an unpaid to one year programme, the aim of which is to lead to sustained paid employment. In most cases this is run by a Further Education College as the young person is required to study at least 15 hours alongside the placement. The young person will have an Education, Health and Care Plan and aspirations to move into employment.
The young person is supported in the workplace by a Job Coach, provided by the college.
There is no requirement to offer a paid position at the end of the Supported Internship programme, however, as part of this project we will be working with businesses to see how our young people with SEND can be considered for and apply for paid positions.
What are the key benefits for Employers for supporting young people with SEND in your business?
- Filling the gaps in your work force
- Higher retention rates
- Improved productivity
- Fewer sick rates
- Increased morale
- Supporting the local community
- Enhanced image/brand
- Diverse range of skills
Quotes from those who have been involved in supporting young people with SEND into employment
Brian works as an engineer at the Marriott Hotel, originally starting as an intern on the DFN Project SEARCH programme:
“Getting this opportunity to work has made me more confident and I no longer see myself as a person with learning difficulties. I’m now someone who can, for example, pick up the phone and sort out a problem. I get up in the morning and I want to go to work. I enjoy every minute of it.”
Linda Hawkins, HR Director for Marriott Hotels:
“All the interns gain key employability skills, interpersonal skills which will help them for any role. And, for us, we have new team members that are enthusiastic and motivated to succeed, adding to a more diverse workforce.”
What are we asking from you?
We would like you to consider how your business can support our young people with SEND and how in turn this will support your business. The You Tube videos below below will take you to 2 videos which demonstrate what benefits you will see from supporting and employing young people with SEND: