An inspiring event to show the partnership between further education and local businesses when it comes to supported Internships has handed out it’s second round of awards.
The West Midlands Supported Internships Event brought together 16 colleges which all wanted to recognise local companies and celebrate the jobs they have created for students with special educational needs.
The event, held at Shoosmiths presented stories about innovative partnerships which were delivering both invaluable work experience placements, and paid employment opportunities for young people who had successfully completed a supported internship programme.
CWM colleges and Skills West Midlands + Warwickshire organised the event. Skills West Midlands + Warwickshire Chair Suzie Branch-Haddow says, “Businesses working with FE makes business sense. This was the common theme from all the business guests we interviewed – having work experience for young people with SEND is a positive factor.
“It was great to hear about the effective impact on customer service, alongside increased staff retention, particularly when work experience developed into jobs and businesses even saw the improvement in staff compliance and training.
“This awards ceremony wasn’t organised by one institution, it saw private business, local government and further education come together and pool resources and time all to work towards the shared vision of improving career opportunities and life experiences for those with SEND”
The 14 award winners are:
- Latham Steel Doors – nominated by QAC
- The Mailbox – nominated by BMet College
- Hydrapower Dynamics – nominated by Sandwell College
- Community Housing – nominated by Kidderminster College
- ASDA – nominated by NWSLC
- The Boathouse (Rubicon Leisure) nominated by Heart of Worcestershire College
- Kuehne & Nagel – nominated by Telford College
- TotalKare Ltd – nominated by Dudley College of Technology
- National Grid – nominated by Warwickshire College Group
- Eastside Rooms – nominated by Halesowen College
- Severn Trent – nominated by Hereward College
- Crowne Plaza – nominated by Solihull College & University Centre
- Extra Care Retirement village – nominated by SCCB
- Ninja Warrior – nominated by Walsall College
The awards were made by the team at Birmingham mental health charity Better Pathways Mental Health Charity, which supports people with learning disabilities into employment within a social enterprise structure.
