Aviva offers supported internship for young adults with autism

Applications for the second cohort of an exciting Supported Internship Programme, which helps young adults with an autism spectrum condition transition from education into employment, will open this October in Norwich.

A supported internship is a one-year transition-to-work programme for young adults aged 17-19 with an autism spectrum condition and an Education, Health, and Care plan (EHCP), who are interested in learning valuable skills and joining the workforce.

The supported internship programme is a collaboration between Aviva, The Wherry School Trust, Norfolk County Council, the national transition-to-work charity DFN Project SEARCH, and Pluss, an organisation that provides intensive support to help people discover their unique potential at work. The partnership has helped create urgently needed inclusive employment opportunities as well as empower young adults with autism through specialised training and practical work experience.

The interns will be working from Aviva’s city centre offices in Norwich, supported by an on-site job coach. The internships will start from September 2025

Tim is an intern in finance data quality assurance and joined the programme in September 2024. He says: “It’s been really great getting experience of real employment and the team put people first!”

While another 2024 intern in cyber security, says: “It’s been a great opportunity to get into working life and the real world and definitely gives me an advantage for my future.”

The Wherry School, Norwich – a specialist school for Autistic Learners - will host an open evening about the programme on Monday 14 October 2024, at 4:30 pm to help young people and their families find out more about the internship opportunities and how to apply.

The event will be an opportunity to meet the education team at the Wherry School, and is open to anyone interested in the internship, including those who may already be in their final years of education in another setting. Attendees will also meet the wider project team at Aviva and other young people exploring similar workplace opportunities.

Owen Morris, MD Personal Lines at Aviva, and the Project Sponsor, says:

“Aviva is thrilled to continue its collaboration with DFN Project Search, The Wherry School, and Pluss, for the second year running, supporting young adults with autism spectrum conditions through our year-long internship programme at Aviva’s Norwich offices. Building on the success of this year’s interns, we are confident that the insurance industry remains an excellent environment for neurodivergent individuals, offering numerous challenges to solve, diverse perspectives to embrace, and a wealth of opportunities that align with each person’s unique strengths and talents.”

Matthew Bohan, data automation and MI lead for cybersecurity at Aviva, is supporting an intern who joined the programme in September 2024. He says:

“It has been an absolute privilege to participate in this scheme and within just a few weeks, our intern has already developed valuable skills and experience and is thriving in our work environment. I look forward to continuing to learn from this experience and witnessing more successes in the coming months.”

Rachel Quick, Principal at the Wherry School, says: 

“The Wherry School Trust seeks to nurture the talents of autistic learners and to provide an educational setting that celebrates Autistic identity.  We have seen our students grow and move into higher education and through internships, into the world of work. Now we look forward to continuing this journey, again encouraging Norfolk and Suffolk young people to explore future opportunities through a supported internship opportunity in partnership with Aviva and support from DFN Project Search. 

“This partnership demonstrates how we can work together to remove unnecessary employment barriers and allow our students to flourish, but also enable the young people who take part in this joint learning approach to inform the workplace about Autism and their talents and transform the setting so that more Autistic young people can thrive in the workplace.” 

Neil Cattle, Learning Disability Manager at Pluss, says:

“Pluss is delighted to be working in partnership with Aviva and The Wherry School on this initiative dedicated to empowering young autistic interns through valuable work experience and skills development. At Pluss, we believe in the potential of every young person, and we recognise the unique strengths that autistic individuals bring to the workplace. The partnership’s commitment to diversity and inclusion aligns perfectly with Pluss’s mission, and together, we are excited to pave the way for a more inclusive workforce. The collaboration will not only benefit the interns but also enrich the workplaces where they will contribute their unique perspectives and talents. Together, Pluss, Aviva, DFN Project SEARCH and Wherry School are championing a brighter, more inclusive future for young autistic individuals.”

Kirsty Matthews, CEO of DFN Project SEARCH, says:

“We are proud to be launching the second supported internship programme alongside our partners and are delighted to support potential candidates on their DFN Project SEARCH journey to obtain valuable work experience that will help transform their lives. DFN Project SEARCH works to build a more inclusive society by improving career opportunities for those with learning disabilities and autism. With the largest data set in the UK, DFN Project SEARCH’s evidence-based model challenges misconceptions and changes the way society views and enables young adults with learning disabilities and autism, to ensure that they reach their true and full potential.”

Young adults and their parent or guardians who are interested in finding out more about the event or internship can contact Rachel Quick, Principal of the Wherry School, on principal@thewherryschool.co.uk.

-ENDS-

Notes to Editors

Aviva also provides supported internship for young adults with an Education, Health and Care plan (EHCP) at its York offices. This supported internship programme is a collaboration between Aviva, York City Council, York College, and DFN Project SEARCH.

Media Enquiries - For more information contact: 

• The Wherry School: Rachel Quick, office@thewherryschool.co.uk
• Aviva: Karmen Ivey,  karmen.ivey@aviva.com  
• DFN Project SEARCH: Ana Grube on ana.grube@integra-group.co.uk  or 07834491313

About DFN Project SEARCH:

• DFN Project SEARCH is a business-led, one-year transition to employment programme for young people with a learning disability and autism or both. 
  
• DFN Project SEARCH believes that everyone deserves the right to aspire to the very best future, yet fewer than 4.8% of people with a learning disability who are known to local authorities in England go on to secure full-time paid employment.
• Its ambition is to ensure that everyone with a learning disability or autism can attain high-quality, integrated employment in their local area. 
• The programme has supported more than 2,200 young people into paid work and their #InclusionRevolution campaign aims to help 10,000 young adults with SEND into paid employment by 2030.
• www.dfnprojectsearch.org

About Pluss:

• Pluss is dedicated to creating inclusive opportunities for individuals with diverse abilities. We strive to empower people through training, support, and meaningful work experiences that help them reach their full potential.