The cohort of 28 students, who range from the age of 16 to 24, have been praised by employers for their professionalism, enthusiasm and “genuine sense of purpose”, with their achievements celebrated at a recent graduation ceremony.

The Supported Internship scheme is delivered by NWSLC in partnership with Warwickshire County Council and DFN Project SEARCH, along with a number of partner employers including ASDA Nuneaton, George Eliot Hospital, Nuneaton Signs and Wincanton/GXO.

The addition of two new partner employers – Pladis in Wigston and the Amazon site in Hinckley – has allowed for even more students who have Educational Health Care Plans (EHCP) to gain this valuable experience.

Dedicated NWSLC Job Coaches are on hand to support the students’ internship, and students also

study functional skills in English and maths alongside the work experience programme.

One student who completed her internship at Amazon and gained a paid role with the company said the experience has boosted her confidence and communications skills, enabling her to travel independently to work. It even prompted her to start looking into supported living opportunities.

Employers were full of praise for this year’s cohort, with Adam Morris, Production Manager at Nuneaton Signs, saying: “The interns bring enthusiasm, new ideas and a genuine sense of purpose to the production floor, and in return we provide structured training, confidence‑building and meaningful opportunities.”

Staff at George Eliot Hospital encouraged other employers to sign up to the scheme as “you gain far more than you expect.”

Estates Officer Graham Hall said: “The commitment shown by the interns is a breath of fresh air. All of them have shown a work ethic which supports us in providing a better service”, while the hospital’s ICT Service Operations Team Leader, Connor Goold, added: “I have particularly been impressed with the growth in confidence in the interns. They approach each interaction with professionalism. They are punctual, proactive and ask thoughtful questions.”

Despite the employment challenges currently facing all young people, a number of students who have just completed their internships have already secured paid positions, while two have taken on voluntary roles and several more have undertaken interviews and are waiting to hear the outcome.

Marion Plant, OBE FCGI, Principal and Chief Executive at NWSLC, said: “The aim of the Supported Internship programme is to provide students with the aspiration and skills to achieve sustainable paid employment through a demonstrable, supported pathway.   

“A huge thank you must go to our partner employers who once again, have put their faith in our students and given them that all-important opportunity in which to flourish.”

Kristina Lovick, NWSLC’s Supported Internships and Employability Lead, said new to the programme this year is extra resilience training for students to prepare them for the job application process. Staff have also supported students sitting their driving theory tests, something she said many of them may not have done without the confidence the internship programme has provided them with. 

She said: “I took on this role to make a difference and do something meaningful and seeing students come out of themselves and gain confidence, sometimes in the space of three months, is just lovely and is the reason why I do this job.

“For many students, it’s about realising that they are employable, especially when they see last year’s students working within the same companies they are spending their placement with. Now it’s about taking forward the skills they have gained during the internship.”

Jodie Gosling MP, Member of Parliament for Nuneaton, has visited the interns during their placements and praised the programme in the Houses of Parliament in April.

She said: “Having visited the NWSLC Supported Interns at ASDA earlier this year, it has been fantastic to see the programme grow with more employers getting involved. It was an honour to host Supported Interns in Westminster for the second annual SEND Youth Parliament and promote the amazing work of Supported Interns to Ministers.

“I will continue to champion the growth and potential of Supported Internships, as I have seen first-hand the impact of this in Nuneaton and will be encouraging companies across the country to collaborate with Further Education colleges to develop this type of provision.”

The achievements of this year’s cohort were celebrated at a special graduation ceremony at Hinckley Campus on Wednesday, June 24.

In the last five years, 88 students have taken part in the scheme and next year will see the programme’s 100th student.

NWSLC is rated ‘good’ by Ofsted, with behaviour and attitudes rated ‘outstanding’ following its latest inspection. In addition, inspectors rated the College’s contribution to meeting skills needs as “strong” – the highest rating possible.

For information about NWSLC’s courses and student success stories visit www.nwslc.co.uk