Basingstoke MP Maria Miller was delighted to join students and staff at BCOT, together with employers, to mark the first year of BCOT’s Supported Internships. The Supported Internship is a programme designed to help young people with special educational needs get into the workplace. It runs over one year, and students undertake employability training at BCOT as well as a substantial period of work experience placement.

Maria was welcomed by BCOT Principal Anthony Bravo and members of his team, and met students who have participated in the internships as well as the employers who have helped with delivering the work experience placement, including Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council, the North Hampshire Hospital NHS Foundation and local charity Muffins Dream Foundation.

Maria said: “This is a fantastic initiative and it is clear that everyone involved has found it really valuable. Fewer than one in ten people with a learning disability in Hampshire are able to get into work. This is an appalling waste of talent, especially when so many employers are struggling to find enough people to fill some vacancies.”

Maria added: “BCOT already have many students enrolled for the Supported Internships for September, and I would urge local businesses who could consider offering a work experience placement under this scheme to contact BCOT for further information.”