Students shine at Supported Internship Awards

On Monday 9 June, City of Portsmouth College proudly hosted the Supported Internship Awards at our Highbury Campus, celebrating the incredible achievements of our Supported Internship students.

The evening highlighted the transformative journey of young people with additional needs, who have completed the esteemed Supported Internship programme, which is delivered in partnership with Portsmouth City Council and Minstead Trust.

Designed to help young people into paid employment, the programme combines expert job coaching for employers, with on-the-job training for students alongside their academic study.

Each student spent approximately 15-20 hours per week in a real workplace, matched carefully through a process of job carving and interviews, and supported by Minstead Trust’s skilled Job Coaches.

In addition to their work placements, interns attended classes two days a week with COPC at the Civic Offices in Guildhall Square, focusing on employability, vocational profiling, and studying for relevant qualifications.

The awards ceremony was attended by the interns themselves, family & friends, employers, and partner representatives.

Every intern received a Certificate of Completion, recognising their commitment to the programme and the skills they’ve developed throughout the year.

A special congratulations goes to Dillon Hewitt, who was presented with the prestigious Student of the Year trophy - a well-deserved honour for his outstanding progress and contribution.

Cllr Chris Attwell, Cabinet Member for Central Services was in attendance and addressed the audience at the start of the ceremony. In a recent post on his social media account, he said:

“Wonderful to be at City of Portsmouth College for the Supported Internship Awards. Among many other benefits, people with additional needs gaining employment reduces inequality, increases diversity and innovation in the workplace, and creates more connected and cohesive communities...looking forward to this programme going from strength to strength.”

Hannah Parkinson, Assistant Principal Foundations & Learning Support said:

“We are so proud of every single student who took part in this year’s programme. Their hard work, positivity, and determination have been nothing short of inspiring. We wish them all the very best in their future careers and look forward to seeing what they will go on to achieve.”

We extend our heartfelt thanks to all the local employers who provided placements and supported our interns with training and mentorship. Your openness and encouragement have played a vital role in giving these young people the confidence and tools they need to thrive in the world of work.