Sussex Uni Food is delighted to welcome five new interns as our Supported Internship programme enters its second year. Working in partnership with Ambitious About Autism and St. John’s College Brighton, the programme is designed to help equip autistic young people with the skills needed for adulthood and employment.
Building on the success of the inaugural programme in 2025-26, this year's interns will gain workplace experience across a variety of roles throughout our food and hospitality operations. From customer service and retail to food preparation and kitchen support, the placements are designed to help interns develop practical skills, confidence and independence in a real working environment.
The return of the programme reflects our ongoing commitment to creating meaningful employment pathways for young people with learning disabilities and autism, particularly important when considering that only 29% of autistic adults are in employment in the UK.
A successful first year
The first year of the programme delivered encouraging results, with two interns already securing paid employment following the completion of the programme and others continuing their employment journeys with interviews currently lined up.
These achievements demonstrate the positive impact that supported internships can have in helping young people develop workplace skills, gain confidence and take their next steps into employment.
If you would like to learn more about the impact of the programme you can watch our short video and hear from the interns, their families and the Sussex Uni Food staff who have worked as mentors over the past year.
Learning through experience
Over the coming academic year, our five new interns will rotate through a range of placements within Sussex Uni Food, gaining hands-on experience in both customer-facing and operational roles.
Each intern will receive personalised support from a Sussex Uni Food mentor to help develop skills including communication, teamwork, time management and customer service, while building an understanding of the many career opportunities available within the hospitality industry.
The programme is delivered in partnership with St John's College and Ambitious about Autism, providing tailored support to ensure each intern can develop at their own pace while working towards their individual goals.
Creating opportunities for the future
The success of last year's cohort demonstrates what can be achieved when barriers to employment are removed and individuals are given the opportunity to learn, contribute and thrive.
Sandra Juan Delgado, Social Impact and Sustainability Manager for Sussex Uni Food, said:
"We're incredibly happy to be welcoming our second cohort of supported interns to Sussex. One of the most rewarding aspects of the programme has been seeing the success of our first group. We look forward to supporting this year's interns as they gain experience, develop new skills and build confidence for their future careers."
Biff Mooney, Supported Internship Lecturer for Ambitious about Autism, said:
"We are very grateful to Sussex Uni Food and the University of Sussex for the opportunities and support they have provided for our interns. It has been thrilling to see our interns grow in confidence both in and out of the workplace. Interns have developed key skills which have benefited them beyond the workplace, with some interns going on to make friends for the first time."
To find out more about the positive impact that Sussex Uni Food is making on campus, visit our Values webpage.