Internships
DISC offers a variety of programmes for neurodiverse or disabled young people aged 16-24. All of our interns have digital skills and aspire to work in digital or creative working environments. Their position on the journey through DISC is dependent on their level of support needs and proximity to paid employment. All courses are personalised to support young people to achieve their EHCP outcomes.
DISC now operates across two locations:
Third Floor, Holyoake House, Hanover St, Manchester. M60 0AS
Ground Floor, Abito Building, 85 Greengate, Salford M3 7ND
DISC Pathway Accessible Copy
Alternative Provision
Our AP days are for young people attending local schools and specialist colleges that want to practice their digital skills in our city-centre office environment, for up to one day per week.
Foundation Programme
There are different levels of pre-internship at DISC.
Foundation 1 supports interns for three days per week to build digital skills and independence.
In Foundation 2, interns work for four days per week on briefs set by DISC staff to build employability skills.
Bridge
Our Bridge course is a 4-day course designed to build professional foundations, prepare interns for adulthood and provide them with an opportunity to refine digital skills.
Gateway
In preparation for a Supported Internship, our Gateway course offers work experience throughout the year to encourage independence at work and preparation for adulthood.
Supported Internship
The Digital Supported Internship is a year long programme which supports interns into paid employment. The course is 80% work experience and is for interns who are looking for a job in digital and creative industries. The other 20% of the course focuses on employability skills and
Preparing for Adulthood.
Paid Employment
A job coach will support young people into paid employment in the digital or creative industry.
SENDCode Agency
SENDCode is a digital agency that provides opportunities for talented young neurodivergent creatives. As part of Digital Advantage, SENDCode have created a professional yet nurturing environment to support young people with paid work.
Programmes
Foundation 1 (Manchester)
Growing as a Young Person: recover, recognise and grow
The first level of Foundation at DISC is for young people aged 16 and over. It is for those who have great digital skills, but are not sure what they would like to do for a living and have not had much experience of work. On the course, interns will learn to recognise and grow their skills, attend three days a week and start to think about their future plans.
Foundation 2 (Manchester)
Growing as a Young Professional: expression, expectation and experiences
The second year of Foundation at DISC is for young people who have more of an idea of future paid work and aspirations. They are learning more about the work place and are starting to work on internal projects. For four days a week, they are starting to work towards deadlines and developing their skills in a working environment.
Bridge (Manchester)
Building Professional Foundations: Professionally driven, prepared for adulthood, refined skills.
Interns are on the Foundation Bridge programme because they want to progress into paid full time or freelance work. They will develop their employability skills through some work experience which will not all be within the digital sector; in order to build their own independence and personal development skills. They will also have taught sessions throughout the academic year. They will also build content for their professional portfolios, with work on projects both individually, and in collaboration with others, with input from our Studio Support workers and Digital Professionals.
Gateway (Salford)
Learning to become a Young Professional: confident, career focused, independent
Interns are on the Gateway to Supported Internship programme because they want to progress into paid full time or freelance work. They will develop their employability skills through both work experience and taught sessions throughout the academic year. With Studio Support workers, they will work on projects which build content for their professional portfolios to support them to transition into paid employment.
Supported Internship (Salford)
Becoming a Young Professional: confident, career focused, independent
Interns are on the Supported Internship programme because they want to progress into paid full time or freelance work. They will develop their employability skills through both work experience and taught sessions throughout the academic year. With Job Coach and Studio Manager support, they will create CVs and professional portfolios to support them to transition into paid employment. The course provides interns with 80% of work experience. Interns will spend 16 hours per week working on external briefs with employers via the DISC Studio Manager. Our host employer, SENDCode, will also provide client work via briefs from their agency. Interns learn via on the job training to build their understanding of workplace norms and industry standards.
Alternative Provision (Manchester & Salford)
We have a limited number of places for Alternative Provision and work with schools, colleges and local authorities to provide engaging and useful provision for young people with a talent for, and interest in, creative and digital making. This is for young people who may find traditional education challenging or may want their formal education supplemented by some hands on digital making. It gives them an opportunity to discover a different form of learning that can lead onto progression within DISC.
All courses at DISC intend to
Build Employability Skills
All of our courses at DISC support young people to develop work skills and eventually progress into paid employment.
Prepare Interns for Adulthood
All our provision encourages and builds independence skills and personal development by focusing on individual outcomes from intern’s Education, Health and Care Plans (EHCP). We offer safe and supportive challenges to support independence and interdependence.
Develop Creative and Digital Skills
All interns at DISC have outstanding skills and a desire to work in digital or creative industries. The curriculum is built, developed and often delivered with industry partners and all our interns work towards the highest professional standards.
Centre Neurodiversity & Disability awareness
Communication, sense of self, understanding and advocating for reasonable adjustments is central to our work.
Provide a Safe Space
DISC is a place where all feel seen and heard. We are all trusting and respectful. Social, Emotional and Mental Health support is at the heart of what we do.
Co-Curation of Curriculum
All of our courses are bespoke and learner centered. We meet interns where they are at and help them to achieve and complete their EHCP.
Skills
General (All Interns)
- Effective client communication etiquette via email, in person, and on the phone
- File and folder hygiene, including naming conventions and organisation
- Basic cybersecurity practices and awareness
- Understanding and adhering to data protection regulations (GDPR)
- Proficient use of office productivity software (Google Workspace)
- Conducting online research and sourcing credible information
- Introduction to cloud computing and storage solutions (Google Drive)
- Use of AI for ideation, research, project starting points and other applications
- Developing a professional online presence and digital portfolio
- Collaboration and teamwork using digital platforms (e.g. Google Keep)
- Effective Communication within a team
- Professional Workplace practices
3D Artist
- Proficiency in a 3D software package such as Blender, Maya, or 3ds Max
- Skills in 3D modelling, sculpting, and texturing
- Understanding rigging and animation in 3D
- Basics of lighting and rendering techniques
- Creating realistic and stylized 3D assets
- Knowledge of UV mapping and shading
- Understanding visual effects (VFX) and compositing
- Familiarity with game engines (e.g. Unity, Unreal Engine) for real-time 3D
- Skills in environmental and character design
- Knowledge of the production workflow for 3D projects
Animator
- Understanding principles of animation (e.g., timing, spacing, squash and stretch)
- Proficiency in animation software like Adobe Animate, Toon Boom, or After Effects
- Basic skills in character design and storyboarding
- Knowledge of different animation techniques (e.g., 2D, 3D, stop-motion)
- Understanding of motion graphics
Data Analyst
- Learning to input, organize, and manage data accurately using spreadsheets or simple database tools.
- Introduction to spreadsheet software (e.g., Excel, Google Sheets), including data entry, basic formulas, and simple charts.
- Understanding the importance of data protection and basic principles of GDPR compliance.
- Technique for cleaning and preparing data for analysis, including handling missing data and removing duplicates.
- Basics of creating charts and graphs to visually represent data.
- Learning about different types of data sources and how to collect reliable data for analysis.
- Advanced data analysis using tools like Excel, Google Sheets, or introductory-level software like Tableau or Power BI.
- Creating sophisticated visualisations (e.g., dashboards, interactive charts) that convey clear insights and support decision-making.
- Developing the ability to present data findings to non-technical stakeholders in a clear, concise, and actionable manner.
Digital Artist
- Mastery of digital drawing tools and software like Adobe Photoshop or Procreate
- Understanding of different digital painting techniques
- Knowledge of colour theory and composition
- Skills in creating concept art and character design
- Familiarity with digital art tablets and styluses
Digital Marketing
- Understanding various social media platforms and their unique features (e.g., Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, LinkedIn, TikTok, Snapchat)
- Creating and curating engaging content for different platforms
- Knowledge of social media algorithms and best posting practices
- Utilising social media management tools (e.g., Hootsuite, Buffer)
- Understanding social media data analytics and insights
- Skills in running paid social media campaigns (e.g., Facebook Ads, Instagram Ads)
- Engaging with followers and managing online communities
- Crafting compelling captions and using appropriate hashtags
- Monitoring social media trends and adapting strategies accordingly
- Knowledge of influencer marketing and collaborations
- Developing and implementing social media strategies
- Understanding the basics of visual storytelling and branding on social media
Graphic Designer
- Proficiency in design software such as Adobe Illustrator and InDesign
- Understanding typography and its applications
- Knowledge of layout design principles
- Basic skills in creating vector graphics
- Familiarity with branding and visual identity
- Knowledge of file formats, file sizes and image compression
Photographer
- Mastering camera settings and equipment
- Understanding composition and lighting
- Photo editing theory
- Photo editing skills using software like Adobe Photoshop and Lightroom
- Knowledge of different photography styles and techniques
- Basic understanding of colour theory
- Understanding image file formats
- Ability to export images in a format, size and quality suitable for the user
Podcaster
- Understanding the basics of podcast production and format
- Skills in audio recording and editing software (e.g. Audacity, Adobe Audition, GarageBand)
- Set up and breakdown of college audio equipment
- Knowledge of different microphone types and their uses
- Basics of soundproofing and acoustics
- Scriptwriting and planning for podcast episodes
- Interviewing techniques and guest management
- Understanding podcast hosting platforms and distribution
- Creating engaging podcast artwork and branding
- Marketing and promoting podcasts through various channels
- Knowledge of RSS feeds and podcast directories
- Understanding analytics and audience engagement strategies
Project Management / Producer
- Utilising project management tools and software
- Conducting virtual meetings and presentations effectively
- Time management and prioritisation skills in a digital workspace
- Project tracking
- Adapting to new technologies and digital tools quickly
- Analysing and interpreting data using digital tools (e.g. Google Sheets)
- Creating SMART actions from meetings
- Broad understanding of all others’ roles
Videographer
- Operating video cameras and equipment
- Understanding shot composition and camera angles
- Video editing skills using software like Adobe Premiere Pro and Final Cut Pro
- Basics of sound recording and editing
- Understanding storytelling and scriptwriting
Full Stack Software Engineer
- Understanding the key programming concepts: sequence, selection and iteration
- Building knowledge of a range of markup, scripting and programming languages
- Utilising relevant frameworks, such as ReactJS for front-end applications and Flask for back-end applications
- Utilising software version control systems, such as Git
- Applying agile software engineering best practices
- Deploying applications using hosting services, such as Amazon Web Services and Netlify
- Utilising SQL and NoSQL databases
- Gaining familiarity with Linux operating systems
- Understanding digital accessibility standards and best practices
Qualifications
Interns have the opportunity to complete their Entry Level, Level 1 or Level 2 Functional Skills English and Maths qualifications with NOCN, if they have not already done so.
Additionally, interns can complete Level 1 and Level 2 Digital Skills qualifications with NOCN.
Outcomes
Last year:
- Supported Interns worked with 14 clients in Manchester.
- Supported Interns have the opportunity to complete up to 400 hours of work experience.
- 83% of interns enrolled onto English courses achieved their qualifications. 90% of interns enrolled onto Maths courses achieved their qualifications.
- 77% of interns achieved positive destinations after DISC (including paid work, freelance work and further education)