Celebrating 100 – Bilaal Marks Milestone on the Get Set Progress Internship Programme

Get Set Progress has reached a significant milestone in the journey towards a more inclusive and diverse workforce. Bilaal, an accountancy and finance student at Sheffield Hallam University, has become the 100^th intern to join the Get Set Progress internship programme, an initiative developed by Thomas Pocklington Trust in collaboration with the Royal National Institute of Blind People (RNIB) to support blind and partially sighted people to access work opportunities with inclusive employers.

Bilaal noted:

“The development opportunities are fantastic; they’re helping me to gain additional skills and grow in independence.”

Bilaal has Bardet-Biedl Syndrome (BBS), a genetic condition affecting his sight and weight, and navigates a world not always designed with accessibility in mind. However, he has approached these challenges with a practical mindset, utilising assistive technologies effectively to engage with his work environment.

Despite his experience and determination, other organisations did not offer Bilaal paid employment. Nicholson & Co, a Sheffield-based accountancy firm, saw his potential and provided him with the opportunity to gain practical experience in his field. After signing up as an intern host with the Get Set Progress programme, Nicholson & Co received support from Thomas Pocklington Trust to enable them to employ Bilaal effectively.

Through the Get Set Progress programme, Bilaal has balanced his work with personal development, acquiring skills that will be valuable throughout his career. Nicholson & Co’s commitment to disability representation has created an inclusive workplace where Bilaal and others can thrive and are an example of how the Get Set Progress internship programme can benefit employers of any size.

Josh Feehan, Head of Internships at TPT:

“It is wonderful to be able to share this incredible milestone, the growth of the programme especially over the last few years is testament to our commitment as an organisation to ensure that talented blind and partially sighted people get access to employment. The success must also go to our host organisations who have provided the opportunities and most importantly the blind and partially sighted people who have thrived when given the chance.”  

The programme’s success rate is impressive, with 85% of participants finding permanent employment within six months of completing their internships. With an estimated annual cost of sight loss and blindness amounting to £25.2 billion nationally, the Get Set Progress programme helps unlock this potential and drives positive economic impact by supporting people with sight loss into employment.

Call to Action for Employers: The Get Set Progress programme exemplifies how inclusion can drive both business success and social progress. We know that inclusive workplaces benefit from diverse perspectives, innovative problem solving, and a more dynamic and empathetic work environment. So, if you’re an employer looking to discover untapped talent that can drive your business, consider hosting a blind or partially sighted intern with the Get Set Progress Internship programme.

Emma Hughes, Director of Services at TPT:

“We are delighted to be celebrating the 100th intern joining the Get Set Progress internship programme. The programme has succeeded in providing high quality intern roles for blind and partially sighted people, resulting in many programme graduates securing permanent employment within 6 months. Working in partnership with the RNIB has meant that we have been able to offer roles to more people each year, enabling us to provide a range of equitable opportunities and work towards closing the employment gap for blind and partially sighted people”

The Get Set Progress internship programme is continually seeking new employers to take on interns and partial funding is available towards an intern’s salary.

As for Bilaal, his professional journey is far from over. He will continue to grow both personally and professionally, and we will be following his journey and sharing updates on his progress through his internship.

Martin O’Kane, Head of Employment at RNIB:

“RNIB’s partnership with TPT on the Get Set Progress programme has created some fantastic opportunities for blind and partially sighted people to find employment. We are delighted to hear the experiences of those who have taken part in the programme and have gone on into full time employment as a result. These participants are such powerful role models and are playing a really important role into educating employers around how to support someone with sight loss in work. We are extremely grateful for the financial support of People’s Postcode Lottery in enabling us to help fund these internships.”