Supported Internships

We are recruiting for the supported internship programme at Whittington Hospital, in partnership with DFN Project SEARCH and Achieving for Children, starting September 2025. This exciting opportunity is for young people aged 16-25 with an Education, Health and Care (EHC) plans looking to move into paid employment.

What are supported internships?

We offer supported internships for young people who want to work in competitive employment. The unpaid supported internships form part of the intern’s education and equip autistic young people with the skills needed for adulthood and employment.

The programme takes place in a business setting. Learners are totally immersed in the workplace, learning through continuous feedback, and gaining real employability and competitive work skills.

This video explains the programme taking place at Whittington Hospital.

Our Partnership Model

Ambitious College, using the Project Search model, works with the Whittington Hospital to support interns develop workplace skills.

The programme runs from September for one academic year, with interns based at the workplace five days a week.

Supported internships also benefit employers to learn what young people with additional needs can contribute and achieve.

Information sessions

Recruiting now for September 2025.

Would you like to develop confidence and work skills in an NHS Hospital?

Ambitious College is recruiting for their supported internship programme at Whittington Hospital in partnership with DFN Project SEARCH, starting September 2025. This exciting opportunity is for young people aged 16-25 with EHC plans looking to move into paid employment.

Information sessions

Join us at the Whittington Hospital for one of our informative and interactive sessions. Our friendly team will be there to answer all your questions and provide you with all the details you need to know about the programme.

New dates coming soon.

Skills assessment and interview day

20 June, 11am-1.30pm
3 July 2025, 10am-12pm (please note later assessment days will be cancelled when places are full)

Location

Whittington Education Centre (WEC), Whittington Hospital, Highgate Hill, London N19 5NF

Reserve your place today

Please note that all events are by invitation only. Reserve a space via Eventbrite or by contacting our team at acsupportedinternship@ambitiouscollege.org.uk.

What does a typical day include?

A typical day includes:

classroom instruction in employability and independent living skills
participation at one or more internship rotations
social interaction within their internship department
regular feedback from the instructor, job coaches, and business colleagues.

How to apply

Candidates must meet the following criteria in order to be eligible to apply for an internship:

aged 16-25 years old with an Education, Health and Care (EHC) plan
is autistic or has a related learning difficulty
motivated to move into full-time paid employment
interested in spending a year learning new skills or developing existing skills in the workplace
be an independent traveller or working towards independence.

If you are accepted through the first stage, you will be invited to attend a selection event with the programme tutor and job coach.

Find out more about our supported internships programme taking place at Whittington Hospital.