Aviva Expands Supported Internship Programme for Young Adults with Autism, Offering Work Opportunities in Norwich

Aviva Expands Supported Internship Programme for Young Adults with Autism, Offering Work Opportunities in Norwich

(IN BRIEF) Aviva has opened applications for the second year of its Supported Internship Programme, offering young adults with autism valuable work experience at its Norwich offices. The programme, a collaboration between Aviva, DFN Project SEARCH, The Wherry School, Norfolk County Council, and Pluss, helps participants transition into employment with the support of on-site job coaches. The first cohort, which began in 2024, has already seen positive outcomes, and an open evening will be held at The Wherry School to provide further information.

(PRESS RELEASE) LONDON, 11-Oct-2024 — /EuropaWire/ — Aviva has announced the opening of applications for the second cohort of its Supported Internship Programme in Norwich, designed to help young adults with autism transition from education into meaningful employment. This one-year internship, starting in September 2025, is tailored for individuals aged 17-19 who have an autism spectrum condition and an Education, Health, and Care plan (EHCP). The initiative provides participants with essential skills and practical work experience at Aviva’s Norwich offices, all while receiving on-site support from a job coach.

This unique programme is a collaborative effort between Aviva, The Wherry School Trust, Norfolk County Council, DFN Project SEARCH, and Pluss. It aims to create inclusive employment opportunities for young adults with autism, providing them with the training and support they need to thrive in the workplace. The first cohort, which began in September 2024, has already seen positive outcomes, with interns gaining valuable experience in areas such as finance and cybersecurity.

Tim, an intern working in finance data quality assurance, praised the programme: “It’s been a fantastic experience getting hands-on in a real working environment, and the team really prioritizes people.” Another intern from the 2024 cohort, who works in cybersecurity, echoed this sentiment, saying, “This internship has been an incredible opportunity to step into the professional world, giving me a real advantage for the future.”

To help young people and their families learn more about the programme, The Wherry School, a specialist school for autistic learners, will host an open evening on October 14, 2024. This event will give prospective candidates the chance to meet the education team, the wider project team at Aviva, and current interns.

Owen Morris, MD Personal Lines at Aviva, expressed his enthusiasm for the programme: “We are excited to continue our partnership with DFN Project SEARCH, The Wherry School, and Pluss. The success of this year’s interns demonstrates that the insurance industry is a fantastic environment for neurodivergent individuals. By offering challenges, embracing diverse perspectives, and aligning opportunities with each person’s unique strengths, we’re confident in the continued success of this initiative.”

Matthew Bohan, Data Automation and MI Lead for Cybersecurity at Aviva, who is mentoring one of the current interns, added: “It has been a privilege to be part of this programme. Our intern has already developed valuable skills, and it’s inspiring to watch them thrive in a professional setting.”

Rachel Quick, Principal of The Wherry School, highlighted the importance of the programme: “Our partnership with Aviva and DFN Project SEARCH allows our students to explore employment opportunities while breaking down unnecessary barriers. This collaboration provides a space where autistic young people can flourish and where workplaces can learn from their unique talents.”

Kirsty Matthews, CEO of DFN Project SEARCH, also praised the initiative: “We are delighted to launch the second year of this programme and support more young adults in gaining work experience that will transform their lives. At DFN Project SEARCH, we strive to build an inclusive society by improving career opportunities for individuals with autism and learning disabilities, ensuring they reach their full potential.”

For more information about the internship programme or to attend the open evening, interested parties can contact Rachel Quick, Principal of The Wherry School, at principal@thewherryschool.co.uk.

Notes to Editors

Aviva also provides supported internship for young adults with an Education, Health and Care plan (EHCP) at its York offices. This supported internship programme is a collaboration between Aviva, York City Council, York College, and DFN Project SEARCH.

About DFN Project SEARCH:

• DFN Project SEARCH is a business-led, one-year transition to employment programme for young people with a learning disability and autism or both.
• DFN Project SEARCH believes that everyone deserves the right to aspire to the very best future, yet fewer than 4.8% of people with a learning disability who are known to local authorities in England go on to secure full-time paid employment.
• Its ambition is to ensure that everyone with a learning disability or autism can attain high-quality, integrated employment in their local area.
• The programme has supported more than 2,200 young people into paid work and their #InclusionRevolution campaign aims to help 10,000 young adults with SEND into paid employment by 2030.
• www.dfnprojectsearch.org

About Pluss:

• Pluss is dedicated to creating inclusive opportunities for individuals with diverse abilities. We strive to empower people through training, support, and meaningful work experiences that help them reach their full potential.

Notes to editors:

• We are the UK’s leading diversified insurer and we operate in the UK, Ireland and Canada. We also have international investments in India and China.
• We help our 19.5 million (as at 30 June 2024) customers make the most out of life, plan for the future, and have the confidence that if things go wrong we’ll be there to put it right.
• We have been taking care of people for more than 325 years, in line with our purpose of being ‘with you today, for a better tomorrow’. In 2023, we paid £25.6 billion in claims and benefits to our customers.
• In 2021, we announced our ambition to become Net Zero by 2040, the first major insurance company in the world to do so. We are aiming to have Net Zero carbon emissions from Aviva’s operations and supply chain by 2030. While we are working towards our sustainability ambitions, we recognise that while we have control over Aviva’s operations and influence on our supply chain, when it comes to decarbonising the economy in which we operate and invest, Aviva is one part of a far larger global ecosystem. There are also limits to our ability to influence other organisations and governments. Nevertheless, we remain focused on the task and are committed to playing our part in the collective effort to enable the global transition. Find out more about our climate goals at www.aviva.com/climate-goals and our sustainability ambition and action at www.aviva.com/sustainability
• Aviva is a Living Wage, Living Pension and Living Hours employer and provides market-leading benefits for our people, including flexible working, paid carers leave and equal parental leave. Find out more at https://www.aviva.com/about-us/our-people/
• As at 30 June 2024, total Group assets under management at Aviva Group were £398 billion and our estimated Solvency II shareholder capital surplus was £8.2 billion. Our shares are listed on the London Stock Exchange and we are a member of the FTSE 100 index.
• For more details on what we do, our business and how we help our customers, visit www.aviva.com/about-us
• The Aviva newsroom at www.aviva.com/newsroom includes links to our spokespeople images, podcasts, research reports and our news release archive. Sign up to get the latest news from Aviva by email.
• You can follow us on:
  • X: www.x.com/avivaplc
  • LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/aviva-plc
  • Instagram: www.instagram.com/avivaplc
• For the latest corporate films from around our business, subscribe to our YouTube channel: www.youtube.com/user/aviva

Media Contact:

The Wherry School: Rachel Quick, office@thewherryschool.co.uk

Aviva: Karmen Ivey,  karmen.ivey@aviva.com

DFN Project SEARCH: Ana Grube on ana.grube@integra-group.co.uk  or 07834491313

SOURCE: Aviva