Earlier this month, the annual Somerset Supported Employment Conference took place at Taunton Rugby Club.

 Supported Employment is a personalised approach to help people with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities into real jobs, where they can fulfil their employment aspirations and achieve their life goals. The conference celebrated the remarkable efforts in Somerset to create successful employment pathways for the most vulnerable young people.

The conference is a yearly gathering for the Supported Employment community to connect, share experiences, and support each other in delivering sustainable employment routes and developing new, exciting opportunities.

Representatives from employers offering Supported Internships across the region, including Kuehne+Nagel, Wincanton Logistics, and Somerset Larder, discussed how providing supported employment opportunities has prompted them to challenge the status quo, and introduce new practices that have significantly benefited their organisations.

Encouraging and supporting employers to explore how they can offer these vital opportunities for young people to gain meaningful employment is a key part of our work at the Somerset Education Business Partnership.

For more information on how you can raise the aspirations of young people with SEND and introduce Supported Employment into your business, contact Imelda Leetch at imelda.leetch@somerset-ebp.co.uk.

To view the current Supported Internship vacancies available in Somerset currently, visit www.somerset-ebp.co.uk/imagine-the-possibilities.

We also have some great pages on the Local Offer and Somerset’s Local Employment Programmes, which include apprenticeships and work experience placements for young people with SEND.