Asda has expanded its Supported Internship programme to offer year-long work experience placements to over 70 students with learning disabilities and difficulties.
The supermarket giant‘s initiative continues to collaborate with charity DFN Project Search, but will expand to 11 stores, including the existing Queensferry story, which took part in the programme earlier this year.
The scheme aims to provide young people with special needs an opportunity to experience a working environment, learn new skills and gain permanent employment once they finish their studies.
The expansion of the programme will see Asda introducing bespoke uniforms, including t-shirts and fleeces, which will carry the message “happy to Help, please bear with me I’m learning”, to help customers recognise that the young people are learning so that they can build their confidence to support and interact with future shoppers.
Asda will also work closely with local colleges to provide students with a full-time course of study based at the store, and access to work-based experiential learning and an employability curriculum.
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Asda chief people and corporate affairs officer Hayley Tatum said: “We’re delighted to build upon last year’s success with DFN Project Search, and promote more accessible pathways into paid employment within retail.
“Last year, we saw just how much value our interns brought to our Queensferry store, our colleagues, and the local community. With 11 stores and over 70 students now involved, we’re continuing to improve our support to young people and ensure they are equipped with the knowledge and experience they need to gain future employment.”
DFN Project Search interim chief executive Carmel McKeough added: “We are thrilled to see Asda expanding their commitment to creating meaningful employment opportunities for young people with learning disabilities and autism.
“By increasing the number of stores involved in the programme, Asda is not only changing the lives of more young people but also setting an inspiring example for other businesses and positively impacting the local communities they serve.”
The updated internship comes as Asda launched an industry first apprenticeship programme last month, giving optical assistant colleagues the chance to become a dispensing optician.
