Internships Work: National & Regional Legacy Conferences Summary

In early 2025, the Internships Work programme hosted a series of impactful events to celebrate achievements, share best practices, and plan for the future of Supported Internships across England.

Across both regional and national events, we welcomed over 1,000 attendees, united by a shared commitment to inclusion, opportunity, and meaningful employment for all.

National Legacy Conference – 4 March 2025

Held online and live-streamed from the Department for Education, the National Legacy Conference brought together over 450 stakeholders including interns, families, employers, educators, and policymakers.

Three panels explored key themes. You can find the full agenda in the download section.

• Panel 1: Real-World Impact of Supported Internships
• Panel 2: Challenges & Opportunities for Sustainability
• Panel 3: Practical Solutions & Best Practices

Programme highlights:

The conference began by celebrating the progress made over the past three years of the Internships Work programme.

• 4,635 young people participated in Supported Internships in 2024–25.
• 1,562 secured paid employment, including 61 without an EHCP.
• 5,967 interns predicted for 2025–26.
• 1,387 job coaches trained and 800 employment champions active.
• 144 SEND employment forums established nationwide.

Powerful stories:

• Interns like Kieran and Warren shared life-changing journeys from education challenges to full-time employment and advocacy roles.
• Parents described the transformative impact of internships on their children’s confidence, independence, and aspirations.
• Employers such as National Grid and Asda highlighted how interns brought innovation, improved processes, and enriched workplace culture.

Challenges and opportunities:

• Funding constraints and inconsistent employer engagement remain key barriers.
• Calls were made for better integration across government departments, more inclusive recruitment practices, and sustained support beyond the internship period.
• The need for aftercare, curriculum continuity, and early career planning (starting in Year 9) was strongly emphasised.

Department for Education update:

Stella Pearson (DfE) acknowledged the programme’s success and confirmed that while future funding is not yet guaranteed, the momentum and commitment from local authorities are encouraging.

Funding has been extended for a fourth year – running until March 2026.

Regional Legacy Conferences – January to March 2025

Between January and March, we delivered nine regional legacy conferences, both online and in person, to celebrate local achievement and foster regional collaboration.

Each conference brought together young people, families, providers, employers, and local authorities to reflect on progress and plan for sustainable SEND employment pathways.

Themes across regions:

• Celebrate your region’s fantastic progress in changing local young people’s lives and helping achieve the programme’s national target.
• Connect with local partners, reflecting on achievement and remaining challenges.
• Contribute to the future of Supported Internships in your region, while sustaining and growing local SEND employment pathways.
  

Event details and attendance

• East of England – 30 January 2025, Online
  32 Attended
• South East – 5 February 2025, Online
  54 Attended
• South West – 11 February 2025, Exeter
  112 Attended
• West Midlands – 12 February 2025, Worcestershire
  35 Attended

• London – 25 February 2025, London Guildhall
  116 Attended
• North-East – 11 March 2025, Newcastle Upon Tyne
  81 Attended
• Yorkshire & Humber – 12 March 2025, Bradford
  46 Attended
• North West – 13 March 2025, Wigan
  72 Attended