Council launches employer training for National Supported Internship Day 2025

Cheshire East Council is celebrating National Supported Internship Day (27 March) by launching e-learning training for employers, to help them feel empowered about recruitment, inclusion, and getting the best from their workforce.

National Supported Internship Day, which started in 2023, highlights the benefits of supported internships. These internships connect young people aged 16-25 who hold an Educational Health and Care Plan (EHCP) to organisations. At the same time businesses can receive the unique opportunity to tap into a diverse talent pool while making a significant difference in the lives of young people with learning disabilities, autism spectrum conditions, and those who are neurodivergent.

Supported internships provide meaningful work placements combined with on-the-job training, enhancing interns' skills and confidence. The ultimate goal is to secure paid employment within 12 months. Interns are fully supported by job coaches throughout the 12-month program, ensuring a smooth transition into the workforce.

Starting today, Cheshire East Council is offering additional guidance and resources for young people. The council has prepared testimonial videos, presentations, and resource packs for schools and colleges.

These materials showcase the positive impact of the scheme on both employers and interns, featuring testimonials from participating organisations and interviews with young people.

The materials can be found here: 

council’s supported internships webpage,

Businesses who have benefitted from a supported intern through the scheme include Siemens, Crewe Hall, and Everybody Health and Leisure.

Additionally, the new, free online training guides employers guides through various modules including:

• Myth-busting
• Reasonable adjustments
• Autism awareness
• Access to work funding

These modules are designed to help employers feel informed and confident when recruiting individuals with disabilities or neurodiverse conditions. A further module on inclusive recruitment will be released by May 2025. Employers can access these resources on the Cheshire East website.

The council scheme which has been running since 2019 has continued to see successful results, with 71 per cent of individuals on the programme progressing into paid work. This year has seen the largest cohort of young people embark upon the programme since its inception, with numbers due to increase by September 2025.

Councillor Laura Crane, chair of Cheshire East Council’s children and families committee, said:

“We’re delighted to once again celebrate National Supported Internship Day and offer valuable training to businesses. This initiative not only promotes awareness of the extensive capabilities of young people with EHCPs, but also helps businesses maximise the potential of their workforce.

“It’s fantastic to see how our local business community has continued to embrace this scheme, and we are pleased to see more young people who are putting themselves forward to be involved, resulting in increased confidence, social, professional and employability skills.

“The quality of our programme has been endorsed by the British Association of Supported Employment (BASE) which is a testament to our supported internship team at Cheshire East, and the great work they do in helping to increase the confidence and professional skills of individuals on the scheme.

“It’s predicted that by 2030, 30 per cent of the workforce in the UK will identify as neurodiverse. This means it’s more important than ever to develop understanding, open opportunities for all, and offer training to our local businesses on how to grow their team while building a truly inclusive workplace.”

Regarding the scheme, David Rowley, general manager at Crewe Hall, said: “From our perspective it has been seamless and incredibly valuable, and is a fantastic risk-free way of looking at new talent.”

Additional information about the supported internships scheme can be found here: 

Cheshire East website.

For more information or to enquire about joining the scheme as an individual or employer, email: 

supportedemployment@cheshireeast.gov.uk.