Supermarket giant Asda has announced a major expansion of its internship programme for more than double the size and number of job placements being offered.
The retailer’s Supported Internship Programme has now been rolled out to 22 stores across the UK, creating 119 placement opportunities for young people with special education needs.
Asda has coincided the announcement with the start of National Inclusion Week, and is delivering the programme in partnership with charity DFN Project Search – which aims to tackle the stark employment gap facing young people with special educational needs.
The grocery said it would continue to work closely with local colleges as part of the programme, to provide students with a full-time course of study based at a nearby store, as well as access to work-based experiential learning every day and a specific employability curriculum.
Asda interim chief people officer Helen Selby said: “We’re incredibly proud to be expanding our Supported Internship Programme, as we double down on our commitment to helping young people with learning disabilities into future employment.
“This initiative has had a clear and lasting impact on our stores and local communities over the past two years. With 46% of last year’s interns securing jobs after their placement, we’re delighted to be promoting more accessible pathways.”
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