Our pre-internship in Northamptonshire
Learners on our pre-internship in Northamptonshire attend careers learning sessions to develop their skills and confidence 3 days a week between September and July. The course involves some
work experience
Work
experience
Experience is when you have learned or tried something before.
is when you try out a job to help you learn new skills.
and other forms of employer engagement.
What do learners do in pre-internship classroom sessions?
Topics covered include:
- Exploring the world of work
- Exploring what good CVs and cover letters look like
- Understanding how to job search
- Identifying positive
interview
An interview is a meeting where you talk to someone or a group of people about something. When you have an interview for a job, you have to answer questions and say why you would be good at the job. The person who gives the best answers is offered the job.
skills and describing my skills to others - Expected workplace behaviours and health and safety at work
- How to work in a team
- Prioritising and time management.
Engaging with employers on our Northamptonshire pre-internship
Employer engagement
As part of the pre-internship programme, learners also engage with employers. This could be in the form of guest speaker visits, or trips to employers' premises.
During terms 2 and 3, pre-internship learners must also complete a minimum of 45 hours of work experience. Learners are supported in their placement by a skills coach and could do work experience with a range of employers including:
Greene King. The UK's biggest pub chain. Hopsitality work experience placements available in front of house and back of house roles - waiting on tables, serving at the bar and working in the kitchens
Cineworld. Hospitality work experience placements available in roles providing
customer
A customer is a person who buys something or uses a
service
A service gives people what they need, like healthcare services that help people when they are ill, and support services that give people support.
.
service, selling tickets and food, cleaning.
Howdens. Kitchen equipment retailer. Retail work experience placements available, providing customer service and replenishing stock.
The Entertainer. Toy retailer. Retail work experience placements available, working the tills, providing customer service and replenishing stocks.
Sanctuary Care.
Care home
A care home is a place where people who need support live. There are staff there all the time.
provider. Health and
social care
Social care means the services that give care and support to people who need it.
work experience placements available in roles like carer, activity assistant, play worker
Daisy Chain Nursery. Health and social care work experience placements available in roles like carer, activity assistant, play worker.
Northamptonshire County
Council
A council is also called a
local authority
A local authority is also called a council. They are a group of people who make decisions about some of the things in the area where you live like schools, social care (support for people), parks and dustbin collection.
. They are a group of people who make decisions about some of the things in the area where you live. These include: schools, social care (support for people), parks and dustbin collection.
. Administration work experience placements available.
Yusen Logistics. A leading logistics company. Administration and logistics work experience placements available
Wincanton. A leading logistics business. Logistics work experience placements available in warehouse operative roles.
Where is it?
Learners on our Northamptonshire supported internship will need to attend classes 2 days a week at Charles House in Northampton. Learners spend the rest of the week in work experience placements and we can try to find placements closers to learners' homes if needed.
The aim of the pre-internship is to prepare learners to progress onto our supported internship in Northamptonshire the following year.
How do young people enrol on this programme?
To express an interest in joining our pre-internship in Northamptonshire and to start the enrolment process, please complete our online expression of interest form.
If you or the person you are enquiring on behalf of are eligible for the programme, then a member of the team will work to get in touch with you within 14 working days.
Before we can agree to enrol learners, we will need to see a copy of the young person's EHCP and to meet with them to discuss why they want to enrol, as well as their skills, needs and interests.
Our Northamptonshire prospectus
You can find out more about all our programmes in Northamptonshire in our 2025/26 prospectus.
Our classroom in Northamptonshire is at Charles House in Northampton. It is a 0.6 mile (15 minute) walk from Northampton station. It is also close to bus stops on the 19A and 41 routes (Derngate Centre stop) and the 4, 5, 9B, 12 and 51 routes (General Hospital stop).
We offer work experience with lots of different employers in Northamptonshire, so we can potentially find placements for learners that are nearer their homes if this is needed.
We understand that some people may not have much experience of travelling on their own and may feel nervous about finding their way to our classrooms.
We encourage people to come and visit our premises before enrolling to see what it’s like and to get a sense of the journey from home. .
You may also be able to get some travel support before joining the pre-internship from your local council.
For west Northamptonshire residents, visit https://www.westnorthants.gov.uk/school-travel-assistance/post-16-travel-assistance
For North Northamptonshire residents, visit https://www.northnorthants.gov.uk/school-travel-assistance/applying-school-travel-assistance/post-16-travel-assistance
If you would like to enquire about enrolling on our pre-internship in Northamptonshire, then the best way to start the process is by completing our online expression of interest form.
However, if you would like to get in touch with a member of the team directly, then please contact the programme coordinator in Northamptonshire, Anthony Woode.
07483 363 658
For general enquiries, you can also contact: employment.support@mencap.org.uk