A young man from Rochdale has secured a permanent job with Amazon after completing a supported internship designed to help young people with special educational needs and disabilities move into work.
Joe Hall graduated from the programme this summer after joining Amazon's Rochdale delivery station in late 2025.
Joe, 21, took part in Amazon's supported internship programme, which provides workplace experience alongside classroom learning for young people aged 16 to 24 with special educational needs and disabilities who have an Education, Health and Care Plan or equivalent.
Before joining Amazon, Joe balanced part time work in a care home with studying a Level 1 catering course at college.
When he began his internship, he volunteered to try a range of roles across the Rochdale site. His first position was as a yard marshal, helping direct delivery vehicles, coordinate movements with colleagues and keep operations running safely.
He later worked in several other departments, including problem solving, picking and staging parcels for delivery.
Joe said the experience had helped him develop his confidence, communication and teamwork skills.
He said, "The leadership made sure we all felt like members of their team from day one. They've just been great, absolutely supportive."
Speaking about the other interns, he added, "It's like a family. A big Amazon family."
Reflecting on the start of the programme, Joe said, "When I first started, I was on the yard doubting myself, thinking, I can't do this, it's going to be too hard.
"But just don't give up. Do your best. Tell yourself, I can do this, and prove to everyone that you can."
Joe has now accepted a permanent role with Amazon. His graduation ceremony was attended by family members and colleagues.
Amazon launched its supported internship programme in 2021 before expanding it through a partnership with national charity DFN Project SEARCH in 2023.
The company says almost 300 young people have begun supported internships since the programme started, with more than 155 graduates moving into permanent jobs.
Kirsty Matthews, chief executive of DFN Project SEARCH, said, "Joe's journey is a brilliant reminder of what is possible when young people with a learning disability and or autism are given a real chance to shine. Watching him grow in confidence and capability at Amazon is wonderful to see.
"We're incredibly grateful to have host business partners like Amazon, who continue to open doors that might otherwise have been closed and demonstrating that when businesses make disability inclusion a priority, everyone benefits."
Amazon has announced plans to expand the programme further, with the aim of supporting an additional 1,000 young people with learning disabilities and autism into employment by 2030.
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