Supported Internship scheme delivers 90% employment rate in first year
ECL is thrilled to announce that following a successful first year, with a 90% success rate, the Amazon supported internship programme for students with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) is welcoming a second cohort of students for the 2025-2026 academic year.
Our Inclusive Employment team is working with USP College to deliver a transition-to-work education programme at Amazon’s Tilbury site. Part of the DFN Project SEARCH programme, internships are available for young people between 18 to 24 based in Essex and Thurrock with a current Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP).
Students are supported throughout by ECL specialist job coaches and Amazon professional mentors and combine classroom-based vocational training and reflection with valuable ‘hands on’ work experience.
Andrea Smith, ECL Head of Inclusive Employment and Day Opportunities said:
“Our first year was a huge success, all of our six interns graduated and five gained employment with Amazon. We are delighted to be embarking on a second year with a bigger intake. We have 10 students starting in mid-September and we’re looking forward to supporting them in their development.
Last year’s group flourished, proving our theory that supported internships can transform the lives of young people with special educational needs by providing them the right environment to succeed. It’s great to be a part of this programme, and to have a global brand like Amazon offering their support is just fantastic.”
Our first year was a huge success, all of our six interns graduated and five gained employment with Amazon. We are delighted to be embarking on a second year with a bigger intake.
Andrea Smith, Head of Inclusive Employment and Day Opportunities, ECL
Five out of the six graduates from the first year now work at Amazon, beginning work within weeks of graduating.
Two of those now working at Amazon Timi Onabule (20) and Hayden Osagie (19) have shared their stories to encourage other young people with SEND to consider supported internships as a path to employment.
Before joining Amazon, they completed courses in health and social care and sports coaching at college. When asked about their time on the supported internship programme, Timi and Hayden shared that they loved the processes, work experience and making new friends.
Timi said: “I’ve learnt a lot of new things, including the processes and skills needed in the different departments across the fulfilment centre. It’s interesting to learn how items are received, sent out and managed at different stations. I’ve really enjoyed being on the shop floor and getting that hands-on experience.”
Hayden added, “I have learnt a lot of new life skills, and things that I didn’t know before. I’ve loved meeting new people, making friends and hearing their stories, too.”
When asked what he would tell himself if he was to relive his first day on the supported internship programme, Hayden said: “Be confident, and don’t be nervous even though you’re not sure what is going to happen,” he said. “Trust the process. It will all work out in the end.”
I’ve learnt a lot of new things, including the processes and skills needed in the different departments across the fulfilment centre. I’ve really enjoyed being on the shop floor and getting that hands-on experience.
Timi Onabule, Amazon Supported Internship Graduate
Timi and Hayden have each grown in confidence since joining Amazon, partly down to the support shown to them by Amazon colleagues. Hayden explained: “Everyone was really good at breaking information into smaller chunks so we could understand the processes. They made sure things were explained in a way we understood and would help in any way they could.”
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.
I have learnt a lot of new life skills, and things that I didn’t know before. I’ve loved meeting new people, making friends and hearing their stories, too.
Hayden Osagie, Amazon Supported Internship Graduate
Timi and Hayden have each grown in confidence since joining Amazon, partly down to the support shown to them by Amazon colleagues. Hayden explained: “Everyone was really good at breaking information into smaller chunks so we could understand the processes. They made sure things were explained in a way we understood and would help in any way they could.”
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.
The ethos of ECL’s Inclusive Employment service is to support people with learning disabilities and/or autism achieve their ambitions of paid employment through mentoring and job coaching which goes hand in hand with the mission of DFN Project SEARCH.
For more information on the supported internship programme contact julie.clark@uspcollege.ac.uk
Supported Internship graduates Timi and Hayden now work at Amazon's LCY2 site Fulfilment Centre in Tilbury
