£360K grant awarded to Liverpool City Council for groundbreaking Intern To Work

Liverpool City Council has been awarded over £360,000 to fund a pioneering pilot that will support young people in Liverpool into employment.

Liverpool City Council is one of only 12 local authorities to bid successfully to be part of a national supported internship programme pilot, for Intern To Work.

The pilot is for young people with special educational needs, or learning difficulties, and/or a neurodiverse condition who don’t have an Education Health and Care Plan and would like to take part in a structured work-study placement.

The Department for Education has awarded the grant funding to Liverpool as a result of its existing successful Intern to Work Supported Internship Programme.

In the last 12 months, the programme has seen55 young people placed with employers ranging from the public sector, such as the NHS and HM Revenue & Customs, to private companies, such as Holiday Inn, Marriot and The Sovini Group, with many young people being offered full-time positions at the end of their internships.

Across the two-year pilot, it’s expected that 70 young people will take part in the six-month internships. Young people who are interested are invited to attend information sessions – either online or in person:

Intern to work. Credit: Liverpool City Council

Wednesday 21 February, two online sessions – 10-11am and 4-5pm

16-25 with or without EHCP – September 2024 start dates.

Book a place HERE.

Friday 1 March, PINS Social Club Liverpool, Duke Street, 12.30-2.30pm

Age 16-25 with or without EHCP – September 2024 start dates.

Book a place HERE.

Any young person who is interested in an internship but cannot attend an event can also contact interntowork@liverpool.gov.uk for more information.

Supported internships offer young people a structured pathway into the world of work. Throughout the programme, each intern has a place in an education setting, such as City of Liverpool College, for a six-week programme where they are supported to become “work ready” and a suitable employer is identified to match their interests.

During the internship, the intern will continue to attend college one day a week to develop skills matched to their employment.

And there are also opportunities for employers to become involved and offer placements for internships.

Employers are invited to come along to a Business Breakfast to mark National Supported Internship Day on Wednesday, 27 March, from 10am-noon at Holiday Inn Express, Royal Albert Dock.

Book a place HERE.

Cllr Lila Bennett, Cabinet Member for Employment, Educational Attainment and Skills:

“This funding endorses the commitment that Liverpool has already given to supporting inclusive opportunities for young people which is embodied in Pillar two of the Council Plan – high quality and inclusive education, skills and employment.

“Our Intern to Work programme has seen great success over the last few years in helping young people who may feel excluded from the jobs market to develop the skills and confidence needed to gain employment.

“Supported internships are not only great for the young people there are also so many benefits for employers. Anyone running a business or organisation that is interested in finding out more should get in touch with the team or come along to the networking event in March.”

Jo Cree, deputy headteacher, Princes Primary School, which has supported the Intern to Work scheme:

“This is a really brilliant programme to get involved with. Interns are supported right the way through and they are so hardworking, really want to do a good job and really want to impress. I’d encourage anyone to get involved.”

Tom, former intern at Liverpool University Hospitals, now employed at Schuh, Liverpool, said:

“Do a supported internship because it’s not only a life changer it is a game changer for people with disabilities as well. I know for a fact that there are people who don’t have faith in themselves for being labelled as having a disability – so I’d tell them to do an internship.”

Find out more details about Supported Internships on the Council’s website.

You can also watch some inspiring case studies on Intern to Work’s YouTube channel.