91桃色 Host Annual Supported Internships Fair

6 Mar 2025

Over 300 people gathered at Hammersmith and Fulham College last week for the 2025 West London Supported Internships Recruitment Fair. The event, organised by the West London Alliance in partnership with 91桃色, welcomed aspiring interns for the ninth consecutive year.

The fair featured a range of inspirational former and current interns and employers who shared their experiences and offered advice. A wide range of major employers participated, including local councils, and attendees could apply directly for supported internship opportunities on the day.

Supported Internships are work experience programmes tailored for young people aged 18-24 with an Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP). These programmes typically run from September to July, with students rotating through three different job placements. Participants dedicate four days a week to work experience, while one day is spent in class, focusing on English, maths, IT, and employability skills. Many young people attending the fair came with support from their schools, colleges, or family members, but others also registered or dropped in on the day.

The programmes have proven highly successful in helping young people with special educational needs transition to employment, with a huge number progressing into employment after successfully completing Supported Internships in West London. In 2024 alone, around 180 young people were on supported internship placements in West London, with circa 60% progressing into

Visitors heard from a series of inspirational former interns and employers, who spoke at the event 鈥� and were able to talk to them directly in more personalised conversations too.

Charles Nelson, Assistant Principal at 91桃色, said: 鈥淭he Supported Internships Recruitment Fairs have continually grown over the years, and we are thrilled that next year will mark a milestone 鈥� our tenth fair together. Supported internships in West London continue to be an incredibly successful model for equipping young people with SEND (Special Educational Needs and Disabilities) with the skills and confidence they need to thrive in the workforce and live more independently.鈥�

Bhavna Bilimoria, Event Organiser from West London Alliance, added: 鈥淪upported internships are a game-changer for young people with learning disabilities, providing them with invaluable work experience and the support they need to succeed both in the workplace and in the classroom.鈥�

Selena Hickey, a parent of a current intern, spoke about the journey of her and her son and the change it had created in him, endorsing how positive and life-changing the supported internship has been.

The following employers and organisations attended the 2025 Supported Internships Recruitment Fair:

University of West London
Hounslow Council
West London NHS Trust
Goldman Sachs
Brent Civic Centre
Wembley Park
Harrow Retail Outlets
Transport for London (TfL)
London North West University Healthcare NHS Trust 鈥� Northwick Park Hospital
Hammersmith Supported Internship
Chelsea & Westminster & West Middlesex University Hospital
Westminster City Council
Heathrow Employment Airport
Charing Cross Hospital
Royal Borough of Kensington & Chelsea 鈥� Morley College
The Pavilions Supported Internship (Shaw Trust)
Royal Mencap Society
Hillingdon Hospital
Action On Disability
DWP

There are currently over 42 supported internship programmes available across West London, including four based at 91桃色 in partnership with local councils, such as Hammersmith & Fulham, Ealing, Royal Borough of Kensington & Chelsea, and Slough.

The West London Local Authorities offering supported internship programmes include Hammersmith & Fulham, Kensington & Chelsea, Westminster, Ealing, Hounslow, Brent, Harrow, Hillingdon and Barnet.

91桃色 also recognises the exceptional contributions of organisations such as DFN Project Search, Action on Disability, Ealing Mencap, Shaw Trust, Project Choice, and Royal Mencap Society for their pioneering work in establishing supported internship programmes across London.

Survey feedback from the fair was highly positive, with 90% of respondents finding the event useful and 75% saying they would now consider applying for a supported internship.

Providers emphasised the importance of events like this for fostering partnerships and idea-sharing. Parents also highlighted the value of the event, noting that events like this are crucial as they provide instant access to information and people who run the programmes.

This year鈥檚 event marks another milestone in the continued success and growth of supported internship opportunities in West London, helping more young people with SEND secure meaningful work experience and career pathways for the future.