Waiting patiently for the perfect job match paid off as Cyrus joined leading communications agency, PLMR and with the help of his Job Coach was able to flourish and showcase his exceptional talents in programming and software development. This partnership with PLMR, which is headquartered in London and has offices in the Midlands, East of England and Scotland, further enhances West Lea’s Supported Internship Programme, building on the successful work already undertaken by the school in offering work placements for students as well as bolstering inclusivity and diversity in employers’ workforces.
The programme gives 16-to-24-year-olds with SEND the opportunity to gain first-hand experience in sectors they are genuinely passionate about, while businesses are benefitting from work-ready students with relevant skillsets. In the case of PLMR, the Supported Internship student, Cyrus, has been placed in the digital team in London, supporting colleagues with software development skills, programming expertise and coding knowledge.
Cyrus’ background is in software development – primarily in programmes Python and Lua – and he has collaborated over multiple platforms, such as Twitter and Discord, with people from around the world. Cyrus and PLMR staff are supported by a team of Job Coaches to understand better how to support a young person with a Disability to be successful in work.
Alex Hackett, Head of Digital at PLMR, said, “Cyrus has been a wonderful addition to the team. His unique talents have already helped provide valuable support to some of our biggest clients, and it has been a joy working with him to produce some truly exceptional and ground-breaking digital products. Cyrus is an excellent ambassador for West Lea School, and we’ve been delighted to support such a fantastic programme.”
Founded in 2006, PLMR is an integrated communications agency working with multinationals, FTSEs, public sector, charities, trade bodies, SMEs and disruptor start-ups. It supports clients working across all sectors ranging from transport and technology and health and consumer goods to education and energy. The team offers a suite of key strategic communications services including public affairs, stakeholder engagement, PR, reputation management, digital, planning communications and campaigns.
