The supported internship programme delivered by Children and Young People Services boosts young people’s confidence and work skills on a daily basis.
70% of our intern’s secure paid employment upon completion, due to the level of continuing support that the team provides.
Our Shaw Trust Marketing Team visited some of our supported internship employer placement sites to find out more about what our interns and employers get up to. The dedication and support the job coaches provide to the interns goes beyond expectations.
Two of the job coaches/tutors who support multiple interns, were on hand when visiting the employers. Their passion and enthusiasm for the work they do was infectious. They are kind, caring, compassionate, and work incredibly hard to get the absolute best from the interns.
Will, an intern on the programme began the internship in September and has grown under the support from his job coach and tutor Ann and the employers who have provided him with placements. He is currently on placement with Five Guys and is thoroughly enjoying the culture and family values the company has to offer. Speaking to Will’s Mum Zoe, she shared how he was quiet and reserved and she had to really convince him to sign up for the programme. However, now Will is a completely different person, he is confident and chatty and has loved his time on the programme. Speaking to him you could see the pride he takes in his work and how proud his Mum, job coach and the General Manager Heather, was of him.
It isn’t just the incredible job coaches making an impact on these young people but also the employers who provide the vital placements that allow the programme to run. At Mencap we met Kirsty the manager who stressed about the importance of giving people a chance, this was echoed by Amanda, a job coach whose passion shines through explaining how proud she is of the interns and how watching them grow and flourish into their confidence is her favourite part of her job.
Paula who runs the dining area in the McDonalds we visited was very enthusiastic about the Supported Internship programme and expressed how the Children and Young People Service’s team have supported the employers throughout the process of setting up placements, welcoming new interns into the fold and always being on hand to support in every aspect. The team make providing placements easy and this is displayed directly in the success of the programmes. Paula shared how McDonald’s support the interns working in a high-pressure fast paced environment and the steps they put into place interns. Paula then went on to tell us about one intern who now works for them in paid employment which was offered as a direct result of their supported internship placement, they now successfully manage the dining area solo on Paula’s days off.
Each placement offers something different to our interns. Shaw Trust’s Supported Internship programme has a profoundly positive impact on the professional and personal lives of the interns supported with each placement offering a different learning environment and opportunities to learn new skills.
The passion and enthusiasm of the job coaches helps our interns make the most of the programme. There is no question on how these interns thrive when they are given this level of support and encouragement from every possible source.
Want to find out more about our Supported Internships and see how you can offer a placement as an employer to our new wonderful cohorts?
Visit our website for more information and get in touch with the team. We would love to speak to you. Supported Internships – Shaw Trust
