Supported interns graduate at Amazon’s Sutton Coldfield base

A group of young people from Sutton Coldfield have graduated from supported internships at Amazon.

Supported internships are structured work-based study programmes for young people aged 16 to 24 with Special Education Needs and Disabilities (SEND) who have an Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP) or equivalent. 

For young people with a learning disability and/or who are autistic, barriers to employment are particularly acute – with just 6 per cent of adults with a learning disability in England currently in paid work, despite 86 per cent wanting to do so, according to data from local authorities. 

The supported internship programme at Amazon was launched in 2021 in a bid to see more young people with SEND enter the workforce.

It was expanded in 2023 through an ongoing partnership with national charity DFN Project Search. Since the launch of the programme, almost 300 young people have started a supported internship with Amazon, making the company the UK’s largest private sector provider of supported internships.

Supported internships at Amazon combine classroom education and practical work experience in a number of roles - all within an Amazon fulfilment centre, where items are stored, packed and shipped.

More than 155 people who have completed a supported internship at Amazon have gone on to secure permanent roles at the company.

Nearly 300 young people have now been through the scheme, and Amazon recently announced plans to quadruple the programme, supporting an additional 1,000 young people with learning disabilities and autism into employment by 2030.

Lisa Swan, general manager at Amazon’s fulfilment centre in Sutton Coldfield said: “Watching this cohort of interns grow and thrive over the course of their time with us has been one of the highlights of my year.

“Each of them brought curiosity, dedication, and fresh perspective to our teams, and the contributions they made were a brilliant addition.

“We couldn’t be prouder of what they’ve achieved, and I look forward to seeing everything they go on to do next.”

Rachel Glew, AMZL (Amazon Logistics) regional director, said: “Our supported interns don't just benefit from being here - they make this place better.

“They bring a different perspective, a determination to learn, and a work ethic that inspires everyone around them.

“The team rallies around them, and what you see by graduation day is a young person who has found their place and a team that is genuinely proud to have played a part in that.”

Kirsty Matthews, CEO of DFN Project Search, said: “The interns’ journeys are a brilliant reminder of what is possible when young people with a learning disability and/or autism are given a real chance to shine.

“Watching them grow in confidence and capability at Amazon is wonderful to see. 

“We’re incredibly grateful to have host business partners like Amazon, who continue to open doors that might otherwise have been closed and demonstrating that when businesses make disability inclusion a priority, everyone benefits.

“These young people have so much to offer, and programmes like this give them the platform to showcase their talents and build meaningful careers.”

Pictured: Lisa Swan (centre) with four of the graduates