An Essex-based inclusive employment service has provided 12 Supported Internships for students with special educational needs based in Essex and Thurrock at Amazon's fulfilment centre in Tilbury.

As part of the DFN Project SEARCH programme, ECL's Inclusive Employment service has joined forces with USP College to deliver a transition-to-work education programme for young people with a current Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP) between the ages of 18 to 24 at Amazon's site in Tilbury.

Amazon's site in Tilbury will be hosting supported internships to USP College students with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND).

The programme will be based onsite at Amazon, Tilbury for the academic year, five days a week from 10am to 4.30pm.

Interns will be supported throughout by ECL specialist job coaches and Amazon professional mentors and will combine classroom-based vocational training and reflection as well as gaining valuable experience of the workplace.

Andrea Smith, ECL Head of Inclusive Employment and Day Opportunities said: "We are thrilled to be a part of such a great programme and it is fantastic to have a global brand like Amazon offering their support. The ethos of our Inclusive Employment service is to support people with learning disabilities and/or autism achieve their ambitions of paid employment through mentoring and job coaching. This goes hand in hand with the mission of DFN Project SEARCH. Supported internships can transform the lives of young people with special educational needs by providing them the right environment to flourish and achieve their goals both in the workplace and in their personal lives."

DFN Project SEARCH is a one-year supported internship programme for students developed in partnership between a host business, education provider, and professional adult supported employer provider.

The scheme provides real work experience combined with training in employability and independent living skills delivered in a business setting to help young adults make successful transitions from education to employment.

ECL's Inclusive Employment service supports adults with learning disabilities and/or autism to achieve their ambitions of paid employment, as well as working to change employers' attitudes towards inclusive recruitment.

To date, the service, commissioned by Essex County Council has achieved over 434 successful paid employment outcomes. Of these,135 have transitioned directly from day services. It has facilitated more than 11,913 job applications, 1,730 interviews and 253 work trials. In addition to working closely with the Essex business community to encourage more companies to become inclusive employers.

For more information on the supported internship programme contact [email protected]