Supported Self-Employment Internship

Local authority information pack

About SAMEE’S Supported Self-Employment Internship:
SAMEE’S Supported Self-Employment Internship are Zero Project 2025 and UK Career Development Award winning. It supports young people aged 18-25 with an Education, Health and Care Plan to develop self-employment through a customised qualification.
Aimed at supporting young people transitioning from education into self-employment, through person-centred approaches, co-created activities and bespoke resources, we align to Education and Health Care Plan outcomes and a Level 1 NCFE customised qualification in Steps into Self -Employment.
Our 20 hours a week programme over 50 weeks comprises 15 hours work-based activities and 5 hours education. Young people are supported by trained and qualified mentors* specialising in self-employment, transitioning and learning with vocational profiling and functional skills development. A typical week includes:
3 hours dedicated time with a self-employment mentor
12 hours work-based activities supported by a transitions mentor
1 day of dedicated Steps into Self-Employment education

Our structured approach is holistic and supports our young people’s independence, activity in their local community and is tailored to their individual needs. Immersion in real-world work activities, supported by highly trained mentors and an underpinning education are geared towards achieving gainful and sustainable self-employment of over 16 hours per week.

Benefits to young people:
develop self-employment, holistic and independent living skills
become an active member within their local community
develop confidence in their own ability
create an independent and sustainable income

Benefits to local authorities:
support 12x more productivity in your local jobs market when recruiting diverse talent
award-winning, Supported Internship Quality Action Framework compliant provision
measurable and demonstrable impact on achievements
strengths-based and person-centred aligned
work ready, active community members
support to you from our mentors

Our successes:
SAMEE started in 2016 and has supported 2,700 people since then. It created the first-ever Self-Employment Internship programme, amongst others, to support learners with special educational needs into self-employment. We were Zero Project Award Winners in 2025 for our programme preparing young people with disabilities to become entrepreneurs. In 2024, 100% of students are fully engaged in our 2-year programme, 50% are already test trading and 25% are completing other formal qualifications in addition to the programme. Through the SAMEE teams’ individualised guidance and support, disabled people are able to articulate their dreams and aspirations for their futures. Through our support and partnerships, we have achieved many significant outcomes for people with learning difficulties and additional needs, enabling them to secure sustainable self-employment.

* our Self-Employment, Transition and Learning Mentors are trained in line with the national occupational standards for supported employment and will be qualified in Mentoring and/or Careers Guidance and Development to Level 6 or 7

Supporting person-centred journeys to self-employment
(Upon signing Internship Agreement)

Induction - Step 1
Before our programme starts, we have an exploration meeting to ensure that self-employment is a meaningful pathway for the young person
vocational profiling
assessment of needs

Planning - Step 2
As our programme is individually tailored to the educational and holistic needs of each young person, we co-create a personal journey and timeline
aligning to Education and Health Care Plan outcomes
aligning to Level 1 Steps into Self-Employment
discussion with circle of support if required

Embarking - Step 3
Our mentors support a journey of discovery, of ideas and self-employment based on their hopes and aspirations through two aspects of Supported Self-Employment i. Work-based activity
external work placements, work shadowing and self-employment development that fit with the young person’s vocational profile, goals and needs
adapted to the young person’s learning style
real-world experience of contracting, timekeeping and dress codes
individualised training to support external businesses ii. Study programme
personalised curriculum
Level 1 equivalent literacy and numeracy
delivered by the young person’s Learning Mentor iii. Award-winning Steps into Employment Level 1 Customised Qualification
Sharing With You – equips young people with communication, money, time, selfmanagement and networking skills
Knowing What To Do – gives young people skills to be able to work from home, make a lasting first impression and clearly define their products and services
Seeing It Through – ensures their products and services are sustainable and clearly communicated
Reflect and Review – supports young people to create a business plan, reflect their learning through an assessment process and identify their next steps

SAMEE’S Supported Self-Employment Internships Internship plan summary

When you choose SAMEE’S Supported Self-Employment Internships for your young people, you can expect:

Young people will received 20 hours support for 50 weeks from specialist learning, selfemployment and transition mentors. This includes 15 hours per week work-based activity, which could include placements, work shadowing and self-employment development and 5 hours education with a personalised curriculum

Your investment in Supported Self-Employment Internships will increase your economic area’s ability to attract diverse talent and unlock 12x greater productivity

Our Level 6 and 7 trained and qualified Mentors and Career Guidance and Development coaches will support you and the businesses in your area with awareness, understanding and the tools to support disabled young people

Measurable and demonstrable impact will help you showcase the value of our qualitative programme as data for powerful decision-making

A programme which attracts 100% engagement and positive feedback from students

access additional bespoke programmes you can commission

vocational profiling and personalised curriculum to ensure tools, resources and experiences align with young people’s goals and needs

programmes attracting national and international interest

awareness training to support external businesses to ensure work-based activity is fully supported and address the 29% employment gap for disabled people

 

Samee for the Supported Self-Employment Internship Programme

Supporting disabled young people into self-employment by creating a sustainable business based around their individual talents,skills & knowledge . . .

“ The SAMEE team genuinely care about me. They take time to listen and understand me and their guidance and mentoring has helped with my confidence and self-esteem. Having someone in my corner that believes in me is brilliant ”