Celebrating National Supported Internship Day, we’re shining a literal light on the life-changing opportunities our interns bring to workplaces and how employers can be part of their journey.
To mark National Supported Internship Day, we proudly lit up our London Road Campus in orange. A place where so many of our interns take important steps toward their future careers, gaining confidence, skills and invaluable real-world experience.
Across the college, staff and students are also wearing orange as part of a nationwide campaign to raise awareness of Supported Internships and the life-changing opportunities they create for young people with learning disabilities and/or autism.
At Shrewsbury College, Supported Internships are at the heart of what we do. As demand continues to grow, we are looking to partner with more employers who want to be part of something truly impactful.
What is a Supported Internship?
Supported Internships offer structured, work-based learning for young people aged 18 to 24 with an Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP).
Students combine a real workplace placement (at least two days per week) with a tailored college programme, including employability skills, preparation for adulthood, and English and maths where needed. Each intern is supported by a dedicated Job Coach through our partnership with Enable Shropshire.
With clear goals, regular feedback and hands-on experience, interns build the skills, confidence and independence needed to progress into employment.
Real impact: our interns in action
Our interns continue to demonstrate just how valuable Supported Internships are - bringing commitment, positivity and real contributions to their workplaces every day.
- George - A fantastic example of consistency, with 100% attendance and growing confidence in Portering.
- Bruno - Reliable and hardworking, while also showing outstanding kindness and teamwork in supporting a fellow intern.
- Jared - Delivered excellent results in Pathology, securing bank hours, and now continuing to impress in Catering.
- Ashley - Made a brilliant impact, contributing over £2,000 in savings through recycling and progressing towards multiple job opportunities.
Earlier this week, we were proud to celebrate our interns as they were presented with their IOSH and Food Safety certificates - a fantastic milestone that reflects their hard work and growing confidence.
Why partner with us?
Working with our Supported Internship programme brings real, measurable benefits:
- Access to a motivated and loyal pipeline of emerging talent
- Reduced recruitment costs and improved staff retention
- Opportunities to support Social Value and ESG priorities
- A more inclusive and engaged workplace culture
- Ongoing support from experienced Job Coaches
Many of our partners go on to offer paid roles or apprenticeships - because interns quickly become valued members of the team.
What our partners say
“We've seen first-hand the value that SEND young people bring to our workforce. Through Supported Internships in Shropshire, we've welcomed motivated, reliable individuals who are eager to learn and contribute. We've benefited directly from offering placements and would absolutely encourage other employers to get involved.” - Fiona Weir, Social Value Manager at VINCI Building
Take the next step
For employers
We are always looking to work with organisations who want to develop talent, support inclusive employment and make a lasting difference. If you’d like to explore becoming a partner, we’d love to hear from you.
Contact Ben Kovacs, Head of Additional Learning:
For students and families
Are you a student with an EHCP who’s ready to take the next step towards employment?
Join one of our upcoming information sessions to meet the teams behind our Supported Internship and DFN Project SEARCH programmes. You’ll have the chance to:
- Learn how the programmes work
- Ask questions directly to our expert staff
- Discover how we support you to build skills, confidence and independence
Whether you’re just starting to think about your future or ready to take the next step, we’d love to meet you.