Siemens Mobility is marking National Supported Internships Day by celebrating the achievements of five young people currently taking part in its year-long DFN Project SEARCH supported internship programme at the Goole Rail Village.
The Goole Rail Village — a significant investment of up to £240 million in the East Riding of Yorkshire — comprises a train manufacturing facility, components facility, logistics and distribution centre, with a brand-new bogie assembly and service centre currently under construction. The site is set to create up to 1,000 new jobs, along with around 1,700 supply-chain opportunities, embedding it as a driver of skilled employment and economic growth across Yorkshire and Lincolnshire.
The supported internship programme is a key part of ensuring those opportunities are open to everyone. Now halfway through its second cohort, it supports young people with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) to gain meaningful work experience, build confidence, and develop the skills needed for long-term employment. It is delivered in partnership with DFN Project SEARCH, Selby College (part of the Heart of Yorkshire Education Group), and Hft, a national charity supporting adults with learning disabilities.
Supported interns work across a range of departments — including office, warehouse, components, HVAC and gearbox — completing tasks such as parts picking, industrial cleaning, reception duties and catering. Guided by a specialist job coach and workplace mentors, they become valued members of the operational teams at the Goole site.
Harvey Atkins-Brown, Supported Intern, said:
"Being part of this supported internship has proved to me, and to others, that I can do what any other employee can do. It has increased my confidence in myself and my abilities, and I've learned attention to detail as well as how to work as part of a team.
"My advice to future interns would be: never think you're not good enough, because you're much better than you think. Take every opportunity you can and give it one hundred percent. My goal now is to find paid employment, become more independent, and work in the rail industry."
Kayleigh Hunt, Production Logistics Supervisor and workplace mentor, said:
"I was motivated to become a mentor because I wanted to support interns in their learning and help them make the difference, they're so eager to achieve. What surprised me most was just how much their confidence can grow over the course of the programme — the transformation for some is remarkable.
"Supported internships are so important to our organisation because they give young people valuable experience while helping managers and mentors develop their ability to support individuals with a wide range of capabilities. These programmes also allow us to meet potential future employees we may not otherwise encounter.”
Heather Brown, Harvey’s mum, said:
"As a SEND parent carer, supported internships mean opportunity, dignity, and hope for the future. So often, families like mine spend years navigating a system that focuses on what our children cannot do rather than recognising their strengths — a supported internship completely changes that narrative.
"Seeing my child take part has shown me what is possible when the right support is in place. It provides real-world experience, structured guidance, and the confidence that comes from being treated as a valued member of a workplace. It's not just about learning job skills — it's about building independence, self-belief, and a sense of purpose.”
The supported internship programme forms part of Siemens Mobility's wider commitment to creating inclusive opportunities, developing future talent, and ensuring the economic benefits of the Goole Rail Village are felt across the region's diverse communities. As the site continues to grow — with the new bogie assembly and service centre adding further capacity and jobs — programmes like DFN Project SEARCH help ensure that growth is truly inclusive.
As National Supported Internships Day is celebrated across the UK, Siemens Mobility and its partners are proud to highlight the positive outcomes already being achieved by interns at the Goole Rail Village — and look forward to supporting them as they progress towards their employment goals.
