Information for employers

A Supported Internship is a programme that helps to bridge the gap from education into paid work by providing additional support to both the young person and the employer. The programme is designed to support young people with additional needs who have an Educational Health Care and Plan in place and are aged between 16 - 24, who want to gain paid employment but would require additional support to do so. The main goal of an internship is to help a young person with learning difficulties to develop the skills they need to be able to gain paid work.

A supported Internship is unpaid, there is no cost to the employer in offering an extended work placement to a young person. The young person will be supported whilst in placement by a Job Coach, funding for this and reasonable adjustments would be in place prior to starting in the workplace. An Employer would receive support and guidance throughout the placement from the provider.

The education provider would collaborate with the employer to ensure the best job match between the Intern and the employer fits from the roles they have available. In order for the programme to be a success, for both the employer and the young person, it is crucial that we match the right young person and their skill set with the right role and employer. The aim of the programme is to benefit both the employer and the intern.

Accepting a young person on a Supported Internship can not only be rewarding by giving a young person the opportunity to grow in confidence, but also to ensure they benefit from completing a Supported Internship in a real working environment, it is also beneficial to an employer in the long term by helping with their recruitment of staff. 

How does your business benefit

• It can save your company time and money
• It gives you extra team capacity at no extra cost
• It opens up a diverse, undiscovered talent pool
• It provides motivated, committed employees
• It improves morale and team working
• It can enhance your company’s reputation, both internally and with customers
• It demonstrates social value, helping you attract further talent and win business 

Grow your team, grow their confidence. While this is a game-changing opportunity for your business, it’s a life-changing opportunity for the supported interns. They develop in confidence, learn new skills, learn to work as part of a team, build their independence and progress towards paid employment. So, you really are helping to rewrite their future.

Supported Internship Graduation 2023

Supported Internship graduation held at Crewe Hall in July 2023. 

For more information from an employers perspective, you can watch the full video from a managers perspective, sharing his experience on Supported Internships at the graduation. 

Further information 

You can contact Zoe Macey who is leading on the Supported Internship Programme for more information.

Email: Zoe.Macey@cheshireeast.gov.uk

Telephone: 07789654349

Page last reviewed: 19 September 2024