Evaluation of the Strengthening of the Supported Internship Programme - March 2026 - Research report

Oct 15, 2026

Uploaded by Bintang

Evaluation of the strengthening of the supported internship programme examines recruitment, engagement, and delivery quality, drawing on surveys, qualitative fieldwork, and secondary data analysis across multiple stakeholder groups including young people, employers, job coaches, and providers. It reports quantity and profile trends, enablers and challenges, outcomes for EHCP and Pilot interns, health and wellbeing impacts, and value for money considerations. The report culminates in conclusions and recommendations for improving programme implementation and achieving employment and wider societal outcomes.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryResearch & Report

FormatPDF

Pages122

Reading Time5 h 7 min

AccessFree to download

Executive summary

Methodology

Key findings

Conclusions and recommendations

Introduction

About supported internships

Strengthening of the supported internship programme

Evaluation aims

Evaluation approach

Experiences of supported internships

Young people’s experiences of supported internships

Employers’ experiences of supported internships

Job coaches’ perspectives on supported internships

Embedding quality in supported internship programmes

Exploring quality through SIQAF domains

Supported internships Pilot

Outcomes for young people

The wider impact of supported internships and value for money

Exploring value for money

Supported internship programme-systemic challenges and risks

Appendices

Appendix 1: Theory of Change

Evaluation of the strengthening of the supported internship programme Research report March 2026 Authors: CooperGibson Research and St Mary’s University Acknowledgements The evaluation team would like to thank all those who took part in this research, including many young people, and parents or carers, who spoke openly about their experiences. We are particularly grateful to the Young Researchers Group who provided helpful feedback on design, approach and findings, and to providers of supported internships who were instrumental in the fieldwork and data collection, making significant efforts to ensure that young people’s and professionals’ voices were included in the evaluation. Many job coaches, employers and other professionals working with supported interns also took time out of their busy schedules to provide their views and feedback. The evaluation evidence is much richer and more insightful as a result of the engagement and support of all these stakeholders. We are also very grateful to the Internships Work consortium for their considerable time and sharing of information to inform the evaluation, and to DfE colleagues, particularly, Bethan Maynard-Travis, for their invaluable support and guidance throughout the project. Contents List of tables 5 Glossary 6 Executive summary 8 Methodology 8 Key findings 9 Conclusions and recommendations 14 Introduction 17 About supported internships 17 Strengthening of the supported internship programme 18 Evaluation aims 19 Evaluation approach 21 Surveys 22 Qualitative fieldwork 24 Secondary data analysis 25 Costing of supported internships and value for money 26 Methodological considerations 28 Reading this report 29 Quantity and growth of supported internships 31 The number and profile of supported internships 32 Enablers of supported internship recruitment and engagement 33 Future demand for supported internships 43 Experiences of supported internships 46 Young people’s experiences of supported internships 46 Employers’ experiences of supported internships 50 Job coaches’ perspectives on supported internships 52 Embedding quality in supported internship programmes 54 Exploring quality through SIQAF domains 54 Provider perspectives on changes in quality over the investment period 58 Facilitators of high quality provision 61 Role of the job coach 61 Person-centred planning 62 Commitment to the supported internship programme 64 Internships Work activities 64 Work mentor and other colleagues 70 Meeting business needs 70 Supported internships Pilot 71 Outcomes for young people 73 Employment outcomes and destinations over the investment period – EHCP interns 74 Employment outcomes and destinations over the investment period – Pilot interns 77 Key factors contributing to employment outcomes 78 Young people’s confidence 80 Preparation for work 81 Preparation for adulthood 83 Participation in society 83 Health and wellbeing 84 The wider impact of supported internships and value for money 85 Demand for and acceptability of a supported internship costing tool – findings from the costing feasibility study 86 Challenges with recording supported internship costs 87 Cost per intern 88 Exploring value for money 88 Supported internship programme-systemic challenges and risks 97 Securing sufficient supported internship placements 97 The changing labour market 99 Misunderstanding and misconceptions about SEND 100 Intern readiness – interns with EHCP 101 Intern readiness – Pilot interns 103 Parent and carer readiness 103 Funding and resources 105 Accurate and consistent messaging of supported internships 108 Staffing instability 109 Setting up new and extending supported internship provision 110 Conclusions and recommendations 111 Increase in the quantity and growth of supported internships 111 Perceived improvements in the quality of supported internships 112 Ear

FAQs

What methods does the report use to evaluate the supported internship programme?

It uses surveys, qualitative fieldwork, and secondary data analysis to gather evidence and triangulate findings.

Which groups provided perspectives in the evaluation?

Young people, employers, job coaches, providers, parents or carers, and other professionals involved in supported internships contributed feedback.

How does the report assess outcomes and wider impacts?

It covers employment outcomes and destinations over the investment period (including EHCP and Pilot interns) and evaluates health and wellbeing and other wider impacts alongside value for money considerations.

Oct 15, 2026

Uploaded by Bintang