Internships Work Conference 2026: Recap

On Tuesday, 24 February 2026, NDTi hosted the Internships Work Conference, an online event celebrating four years of progress in supported internships. It included three sessions:

Internships Work because young people do
Insights from the pilot
Helping families navigate supported internships

Access the agenda, slides, recordings, and links below.

Recap

Internships Work because young people do

This opening session celebrates the achievements of the Internships Work programme and the young people at its heart. We reflected on what’s been achieved over the past four years, launched a new short film, and heard from interns, job coaches, and employers about their experiences and aspirations.

Agenda

10:00 Welcome and overview

10:10 Introduction by the Department for Education

10:15 Young people work: My supported internship journey, Kieran Jones, SI Graduate and Programme Support Officer (WM-ADASS) Expert By Experience (Enable), WM-ADASS and Enable,

10:30 Employer spotlight: Creating inclusive workplaces, Kyle Evans, Store Manager, Schuh

10:45 Employer engagement: What we learnt from Employer Ambassadors, Alice Hargreaves, Training and Employer Engagement Manager, DFN Project SEARCH

11:00 Quality spotlight: SIQAF and Job coach training, Beth Madigan, Quality Manager, BASE

11:25 Break (10 minutes)

11:35 Short film: Supported Internships for Young People. This new short film, Supported Internships for Young People, created as part of the Internships Work programme, follows young people with SEND as they challenge assumptions, share their experiences, and show what’s possible when they get the right support into work.

11:50 Beyond the Numbers: Redefining Supported Internship Success Through Social Inclusion, Dr Wykeham Bosworth-Nightingale, Associate Lecturer in Disability and Employment, University of Derby

12:05 Video: Finding my future – Young People in the North West and the Power of Supported Internships, Digital Independent Specialist College (DISC)

12:15 What’s next, Bill Love, Director, NDTi and Chair of Internships Work Steering Group

12:30 Event end

Slides

Short film

Insights from the pilot

This session shared key learnings from the Internships Work pilot sites which are testing new approaches to supported internships for young people without an education, health and care plan (EHCP). Learn about how the pilot works, what it has achieved, and hear directly from a local authority and young people about their experience.

Agenda

2:00 Welcome and overview

2:05 Introduction by the Department for Education

2:15 What is the pilot?

2:20 Supporting our interns through innovation, Jennifer Matthews, Non EHCP Pilot lead, Cheshire West and Chester Council

2:35 Derby’s new model, Sabina Talib, Principal Employment & Skills Manager, Derby City Council

2:50 Updates from the Pilot, Includes short videos from the interns on the project currently, Jeanne Allen, Supported Internship Lead, Surrey Choices

3:00 Event end

Slides

Videos

Helping families navigate supported internships

This session was designed to support parents and families in understanding supported internships. We explored common myths, highlighted the benefits, and shared real stories from families and young people.

Agenda

6:00 Welcome and overview

6:05 Introduction by the Department for Education

6:10 What are supported internships?

6:20 Myth busting, Linda Jordan, London Regional Lead for Internships Work, NDTi

6:30 Benefits system overview, Michael Erhardt, Policy Lead, Disability Rights UK

6:45 My supported internship journey, Holly Dresser, Supported Intern Graduate

7:00 Our experience as parents, Richard and Rhona Dresser, Parents of a Supported Intern Graduate

7:10 Maria’s supported internships journey video

7:15 Supported Internships and Blueberry Academy, Angela Whitehall, Job Coach and Operations Manager, Blueberry Academy

7:30 Event end

Slides

Videos