At Talkback, we believe everyone deserves the opportunity to develop their skills, build confidence and achieve their career aspirations. Liam’s journey from supported intern to employee at Fairhive Homes Limited is a fantastic example of what can be achieved when people are given the right support and opportunity.

Following a successful supported internship with Fairhive Homes Limited, Liam has now secured paid employment as an IT Service Desk Assistant, marking an important milestone in his journey towards greater independence and career development.

Supported internships are designed to help autistic people and people with learning disabilities gain valuable workplace experience while developing the skills and confidence needed to move into employment. Through his placement across Fairhive’s IT and Finance departments, Liam embraced new challenges, developed valuable workplace skills and became a valued member of both teams.

His new role is predominantly focused on IT, while also incorporating elements of finance, allowing him to build on the experience and knowledge gained during his internship.

This success reflects not only Liam’s dedication and hard work but also Fairhive’s commitment to creating an inclusive workplace where people can thrive.

A Partnership That Creates Opportunities 

Talkback has worked closely with Fairhive to provide meaningful internship opportunities for autistic people and people with learning disabilities. Their willingness to invest time, support and belief in individuals has helped create positive outcomes that extend far beyond the workplace. 

Neil Sainsbury, Head of Adult Services at Talkback, said:

“Fairhive are an amazing organisation that consistently demonstrates their commitment to inclusion. They are always willing to work in partnership with us to create meaningful opportunities for autistic people and people with learning disabilities to thrive.

“Liam’s success is a testament to his hard work and determination, as well as Fairhive’s commitment to giving people the chance to show what they can achieve. We are incredibly proud to have supported Liam on his journey into paid employment and look forward to seeing him continue to flourish.

“Partnerships like this make a real difference. They help break down barriers, challenge assumptions and show how much talent exists when employers are prepared to think differently about recruitment and inclusion.”

Liam said:

“The Supported Internship has given me valuable workplace experience and helped me build my confidence. The support I received throughout the internship has been excellent and has helped me develop skills for my future career.”

Seeing Potential Become Success

For Fairhive Homes Limited, the supported internship programme has provided an opportunity to see talented individuals develop within a real working environment and demonstrate their abilities.

Rick Smith, Head of IT Systems and Data at Fairhive Homes Limited, said:

“One of the most rewarding parts of running the supported internship programme with Talkback is seeing people like Liam grow in confidence, skills and independence. Over the course of his placement across both the IT and Finance departments, Liam became a valued member of the teams, embraced every opportunity to learn and demonstrated just how much can be achieved when people are given the right support and opportunity.

“We’re incredibly proud that his internship has resulted in employment with Fairhive as an IT Service Desk Assistant, which is a fantastic outcome for Liam and a great example of the value that supported internships can bring to both individuals and organisations.

“The supported internship programme with Talkback has been a fantastic success, helping to break down barriers to employment and provide valuable workplace experience and skills. We’re delighted that people supported by Talkback have progressed into roles at Fairhive, showing what can be achieved when people are given the right support and opportunity.”

Looking to the Future

Liam’s achievement is something everyone at Talkback and Fairhive is proud to celebrate. It demonstrates the life-changing impact of supported internships and the important role employers play in creating more inclusive workplaces.

The fact that two people supported by Talkback have now secured employment with Fairhive highlights the success of the partnership and the value that meaningful workplace opportunities bring to both individuals and employers. While their journeys have been different, both success stories demonstrate what can happen when organisations recognise potential and invest in people.

We would like to congratulate Liam on this fantastic achievement and thank Fairhive for their continued commitment to creating opportunities for autistic people and people with learning disabilities.

Together, we are helping more people develop skills, gain confidence and move into meaningful employment.

Congratulations, Liam. We can’t wait to see what comes next.