Jacob Howse has graduated from the supported internship scheme at Amazon’s Swindon fulfilment centre after spending the past year developing workplace skills, confidence and experience. He has now accepted a permanent position with the company and hopes to progress from part-time to full-time work while remaining in Swindon.
The programme is delivered in partnership with national charity DFN Project SEARCH and is aimed at young people aged 16 to 24 with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) who have an Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP). It is designed to help bridge the gap between education and employment.
Jacob joined the programme in late 2025, despite having no previous experience working in a warehouse.
“Doing an internship is an easier way to find a job,” he said.
“You’re going in a different direction so you can get the experience first.”
Before joining Amazon, Jacob had been studying Maths, English and vocational qualifications at college.
During the internship, he worked in several departments, including picking and pallet operations, and requested extra training in specialist areas after showing enthusiasm for learning new skills.
He said:
“Before I came here, I had no idea how Amazon operates. Now I do. I understand the whole process of how things work here.”
The programme also helped build Jacob’s confidence. When he first joined, he struggled to speak during employability sessions. By the end of the internship, he was leading those sessions and supporting other interns.
Reflecting on what he would tell himself on his first day, Jacob said:
“Be more confident in yourself. And understand that everyone here is so approachable. You can talk to them.”
Earlier this year, Jacob also shadowed Amazon’s flow department after colleagues recognised his aptitude for numbers and data.
He celebrated his graduation alongside family members and colleagues at a special ceremony.
Charlie Miller, Jacob’s job coach, said: “I have had the privilege of working with our interns at Amazon throughout the entire academic year, and I am delighted to say that two of our interns have already secured paid employment.
“They are living proof that having a disability does not limit someone’s ability to succeed in the workplace.
“I am incredibly proud of every one of our interns for everything they have achieved, and I am equally proud to work alongside Amazon in supporting young people to realise their potential and achieve their dreams.”
Kirsty Matthews, CEO of DFN Project SEARCH, said:
“Jacob’s journey is a brilliant reminder of what is possible when young people with a learning disability and/or autism are given a real chance to shine.
“We’re incredibly grateful to have host business partners like Amazon, who continue to open doors that might otherwise have been closed, demonstrating that when businesses make disability inclusion a priority, everyone benefits.”
Amazon launched the supported internship programme in 2021. Since then, almost 300 young people have completed placements, with more than 155 securing permanent jobs with the company.
This summer, 140 interns are graduating from programmes across 25 Amazon sites, including the Swindon fulfilment centre.
Amazon has also announced plans to expand the scheme, with a target of supporting a further 1,000 young people with learning disabilities and autism into employment by 2030.
The expansion comes as local authority data shows only around 6% of adults with a learning disability in England are currently in paid employment, despite 86 per cent saying they want to work.
