Supported internship funding extended for a fourth year

The Internships Work programme funded by the Department for Education has been extended for a fourth year – now running until March 2026.

Building on the work that began in September 2022, the programme aims to build capacity and improve quality and consistency in supported internships across the country.

Thanks to the commitment of the local authorities and partners, the programme has already achieved substantial results:

• Doubled the number of supported internships to over 4,500.
• Supported over 1,500 young people into employment last academic year.
• Shown an improvement in the quality of intern placements and interns progressing into employment.
• Trained over 760 job coaches and recruited over 800 employer ambassadors.

The numbers are impressive, but behind every number is a powerful, personal story.

Having done a supported internship with NTH Solutions, Robert shared with us that "Not only has [his supported internship] given me the confidence to go out and achieve, but also has given me the chance to achieve.”

And Layla shared with us that through her supported internship, “I have learned more about myself and found the real me. I’ve improved my communication skills, and I’ve realised that I’m not embarrassed about being autistic.”

Read Robert’s and Layla’s and more inspiring story here: Stories of Supported Internships

This continued investment, delivered through the Internships Work consortium led by NDTi, BASE, and DFN Project Search, is changing the lives of young people in their local areas.

The focus for this additional year will be on sustaining the progress made and strengthening delivery.

We look forward to continuing this vital work in partnership with local authorities, providers, employers, and families to support more young people into meaningful employment.

Learn more about Internships Work here: Internships Work: All Tools & Resources