Each year, Westminster City Council hosts a Supported Internship programme, in partnership with City of Westminster College and Westminster Employment, where 12 young people with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) have the opportunity to complete three different work rotations with the support of an expert job coach.
This programme offers interns the chance to step into the workforce, providing the guidance and encouragement necessary for success in their chosen fields.
After two years of our involvement in this scheme, we have welcomed seven interns to date. Last week, we had the pleasure of celebrating this year’s cohort at their graduation ceremony, where the Mayor of Westminster awarded their certificates. We celebrated four of our team members who joined us through this supported internship programme in 2023/2024.
Paul Dancer, General Manager at Lexington, who played a key role in establishing the programme within Lexington, shared his thoughts: “It’s incredibly rewarding to help someone gain the skills and coaching they need to start their career. It’s a cause close to my heart, as many of us know someone with visible or hidden disabilities.”
Pictured above: Former Lexington Hospitality and Catering Assistant, Sam Cook, who gained work experience in hospitality at Lexington through the Westminster City Council Supported Internship, leading to his first paid job, and his Lexington mentor, Paul Dancer.
Sam, alongside four other interns, attended our most recent Lexington food innovation forum, assisting with food preparation and discussing their experience on the scheme.
We’d like to say a huge congratulations to this year’s cohort of interns! We are so excited to see this partnership grow within Lexington in the future.
