Unlocking your potential with access

Access Interns aims to support young people with disabilities (with or without Educational, Health and Care Plans) to gain new skills and knowledge, and build their confidence and self-esteem.

With hands-on experience in corporate internships and apprenticeship programmes taking place in July and August, Access Interns helps young people prepare for a successful career.

The programme pairs interns with employers who are committed to providing the right environment that supports people with a range of disabilities. Interns are carefully selected through a thorough application and interview process.

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This was a priceless experience. I got to work on real projects, collaborate with a great team, and boost my confidence in my architectural skills.”
Access Intern at SPPARC Architects

How to apply

To be eligible to apply for the Access Interns programme, you must meet the following criteria.

  • Identify as having a disability or long-term condition as defined in the Equality Act 2012 and/or have a Special Education Need (SEN) in one of these areas: communication and interaction, cognition and learning, social, emotional and mental health, sensory and/or physical needs.
  • Right to Work in the UK during the summer.
  • Be in your final year of post-16 education, aged 18 to 19 by July 2026.
Specific criteria for Access Interns applicants

Ideal candidates for the Access Interns programme should meet the following criteria:

  • Motivation to build CV experience: Demonstrates an eagerness to gain professional experience, showing commitment and the skills necessary to succeed in a corporate environment.
  • Responsiveness to communication: Proactively checks and responds to emails or other communications from the Access Interns team, ensuring smooth and timely correspondence.
  • Workplace readiness: Shows a willingness to engage in a professional setting, with an enthusiasm for learning, collaborating, and contributing positively.
  • Reliability and accountability: Manges times effectively, meets deadlines, and follows through on responsibilities.
  • Independence: The programme provides opportunities to be work self-sufficiently in a professional setting. Interns must also be able to travel to the office independently.

Please note: each application is thoroughly reviewed to ensure suitability for the Access Interns Programme.

We will not ask you for medical evidence of your disability. We only ask that you identify with the the full definition on the UK Government website.

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We used their contributions in several of our projects, including bids, marketing, and social value initiatives, and the feedback from the team was excellent.”
Bid Director, Pell Frischmann

Information for schools

We aim to collaborate with schools and colleges to provide corporate internships for their students. The programme welcomes students both with and without an Education, Health and Care plan, as well as those identified by their school as having special educational needs (SEN). If you are interested in learning more please contact interns@variety.org.uk.

The right to work in the UK

To participate in the Access Interns programme, you must have the right to work in the UK.

During the application process, you will be required to show your passport, or other documentation, to prove your eligibility to work in the UK. A driving licence cannot be used as right to work evidence.

If you have settled or pre-settled status under the EU settlement scheme or e-visa you will need to provide a share code and your date of birth.

Organisations we work with

We continually seek to expand our network and forge new partnerships with employers across sectors. For more information, please reach out to Vanessa Cathline, Programme Manager for Access Interns, at interns@variety.org.uk.

We work with organisations who believe in unlimited success in the workplace for young people with disabilities. Access Interns provides pathways to meaningful employment, promoting self-esteem, knowledge acquisition and confidence-building to help build a diverse community.

Contact Us

We expect that candidates will keep us up to date if your circumstances change. If you are unsure of your eligibility after reading the above, please contact the programme manager at interns@variety.org.uk.

Access interns is part funded by The Kartik Foundation.