Project SEARCH 26/27 Begins

This term, a new group of interns swapped the classroom for real jobs. DFN Project SEARCH, the one-year supported internship run by John Leggott College with North Lincolnshire Council, started its 2026/27 year in Scunthorpe. The interns spend most of each day working in council departments and local businesses, with a job coach alongside them. 

What is DFN Project SEARCH at John Leggott College?

It's a full-time, one-year supported internship for young people aged 18 to 24 who have an Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP). The aim is simple: a paid job at the end of it.

Three partners run it together. JLC provides the teaching and job coaching, and North Lincolnshire Council hosts the interns at Church Square House. DFN Project SEARCH provides the programme model. Each day starts and ends at The Pods in Scunthorpe, and the time in between is spent at work.

What does the year look like for an intern?

A typical day runs like this:

• 9:00 Classroom session at Scunthorpe Pods

• 10:00 Work rotation

• 12:30 Lunch, at a time set by the department

• 1:00 Work rotation

• 3:30 Review, plan and journal

• 4:00 End of day

Across the year, each intern completes three work rotations, so they try different jobs before choosing what suits them. One intern's year, for example, might start as an admin assistant from September to December, doing data entry, post and scanning. From January to Easter they could support the café at the 20-21 Visual Arts Centre, serving customers and handling food and cash. From Easter to summer they might work on grounds maintenance, cutting grass and planting.

Classroom time covers the skills that keep people in work: workplace safety, technology, self-advocacy, money management, and social and communication skills.

How are interns and their families supported?

Every intern has a named team around them. Michelle Pidd, the Project Facilitator, plans the curriculum, matches interns to placements and is the main contact for families. Julie Gawn, the Job Coach, teaches tasks on site and works with each intern's manager. She also helps with job searches, applications and interviews.

Behind them are Hayley Farrell (SENCO Manager) and Jamie Watkinson (Assistant Principal) at JLC, and Jenny Cockerill (Education Lead) at North Lincolnshire Council. 

The college's wider careers and employability team supports progression too.

Families are part of the plan from the start. Parents and carers come to six employment planning meetings across the year, two per rotation. They also help with home targets for independence, ID and National Insurance, and setting up a bank account. 

Why do supported internships matter?

Most adults with a learning disability are not in work. Only 6% of adults with a learning disability known to their local authority in England are in paid employment, based on 2025 Department of Health and Social Care figures. DFN Project SEARCH reports an average employment rate of 70% for its graduates.

The goal for each intern is a job in an ordinary workplace, paid the going rate, for 16 hours a week or more, all year round. Many of JLC's interns have been offered jobs after their placements.

"Project Search has given me more confidence, it has opened doors for me to meet new people, make friends and find employment." Summer, Project SEARCH intern

Frequently asked questions

Who can apply for DFN Project SEARCH in Scunthorpe?

Young people aged 18 to 24 with an EHCP who are motivated to work and ready to commit to a full-time year in a workplace. Applicants should have finished school education or be in their final year.

How do I find out more or apply for 2027/28?

Email Michelle Pidd at michellepidd@leggott.ac.uk, or find DFN Project SEARCH Scunthorpe on Facebook. [Insert application window or deadline for 2027/28] JLC's other study options are on the college's courses page.

What happens at the end of the internship?

The aim is for every intern to move into paid work. The job coach helps with job searching, applications and interviews throughout the year, so interns are ready to apply when a role comes up.