Prospective students, parents/carers and potential partnership organisations were invited to come to Sodexo in January to find out more about Bridge College’s Supported Internship programme; a programme designed for young people with an EHCP (Education, Health, and Care Plan) aged between 16-25 who have a disability and/or autism.

The supported internships provide on-the-job experience for the interns at the Sodexo site near Media City. Bridge College and DFN Project Search have been working in partnership with Sodexo to empower young people to enter the workplace with confidence. 

Jemma Golden, Internship Lead says,

“The opportunities here at Sodexo have been outstanding. Each intern has developed many new skills and embraced training opportunities. They’ve all made a real positive impact with the team at Sodexo and it’s been an absolute pleasure working with them to realise their potential.”

The interns are immersed in real-world scenarios, gaining essential skills and confidence for future employment. With dedicated support from job coaches, managers, mentors, and the Bridge College and DFN Project Search teams, the program aims to transition the interns into paid employment after a year.

DFN Project SEARCH proudly reports that, on average, 60% of graduate's secure full-time permanent roles, with 70% gaining employment overall. 

The Open Day provided current interns an opportunity to shine, showcasing their newfound skills through presentations, leading tours of the building, and discussions about their future ambitions.

Students attending the Open Day from across Greater Manchester asked questions about the work and what was expected of the interns, including the rules they must follow. They engaged in interactive workshops, exploring their interests and potential career paths within the programme.

What does the programme involve? 

The first few months of the programme are spent upskilling the interns and doing classroom-based work to learn what is expected of them during the placements, including how to be professional, time management skills, travel training, budgeting skills, health and safety in the workplace, and being ready to work. 

Following this, interns embark on three 12-week placements in soft services, security, and people services; discovering and excelling in roles that match their passions.
Our current interns include B, who has innovatively contributed to the catering team by developing a new dessert, J, who has found a passion for security, and M, who has thrived in the post room; mastering IT skills and warehouse operations including the pump truck! All these interns exemplify the program's success.

B’s carer shared,

“Seeing B’s motivation go through the roof has been a joy to witness!  He has gone from being a bored young man who stayed up late with very few interests to being someone that looks forward to his day at work. He is so enthusiastic to tell us about his day because of the new skills he’s learnt with his manager and the Bridge College team supporting him. He’s looking forward to a great future in employment!” 

This Open Day not only celebrated the achievements of current interns but also inspired future participants to embark on their own journeys of growth and success.

“We’re so proud of all the young people, seeing their confidence grow has been a delight. They are an asset to our teams.”

– Hayley, Soft Services Manager, Sodexo

If you’d like to find out more and to download the course overview, visit: https://www.togethertrust.org.uk/schools/supported-internships or contact admin@bridgecollege.ac.uk