Nathaniel Blair, a SEND student at Harrison College, was offered a job in cyber security after a nine-month placement learning about construction careers.
As a disability confident employer, we work to support people who face barriers to employment into careers, one of the 2030 ambitions set out in our Now or Never sustainability strategy.
Part of our enrichment programme, which has delivered employability training to more than 1,000 students since 2016, Nathaniel was offered a six-month work placement around Willmott Dixon’s Adwick Lane site. This became nine months, as Nathaniel grew in confidence. He progressed from three hours a day twice a week at site to six hours a day and three days a week, which helped prepare him for full-time work.
“I really enjoyed my time as an intern with the team at Willmott Dixon. It helped me gain new work and social skills necessary to operate in a professional working environment,” Nathaniel said.
Harrison College is a specialist provider of education to young people aged 16-25 with autism and other learning needs where education is focused on developing students’ life and work skills for internships and employment through partnerships with local businesses.
Mike Peebles, Chief Commercial Officer at Harrison College, said: “Without any doubt the key element in securing his new job was him discussing his time with Willmott Dixon, which was everything that an employer wants to hear. This has literally changed the young man’s life, so thank you.”
