Kirklees College is piloting a work placement scheme for young people with learning disabilities geared towards helping them find long-term jobs. There are 19 students taking the ‘supported internships’, who all come from the college’s foundation learning department, based in Dewsbury and Huddersfield. The pilot scheme, set to become a permanent fixture at the college if it is judged to be a success, will involve them spending two days a week throughout this academic year with an employer, for example at garden centres, sports centres and retail shops. They will spend a further one day a week training with the college. The learners will gain either a Pearson E3 award in customer service, or a Pearson level one award in the principles of customer service after completing the internships. Jenny Evans, the college’s head of foundation learning, said that they “will be a great way for our learners not only to learn new skills but to prepare them for work so that hopefully they will get a job that suits them at the end”. Pic: Foundation students taking part in the supported internships pilot at Kirklees College