Real-World Tech Experience: 4 Students Complete 6-Week IT Internship with IRIS Software Group
August 2026
At Day One, providing young people with paid, meaningful work experience is at the heart of our mission. Connecting ambitious school leavers with forward-thinking employers breaks down barriers and turns classroom potential into professional confidence.
Building on our commitment to creating pathways into technology, we were thrilled to partner with IRIS Software Group for an intensive 6-week summer IT internship.
Four talented students, selected from Oldham Sixth Form College and Trinity Church of England High School, stepped out of the classroom and straight into the heart of a leading software enterprise.
Diving Headfirst into Hands-On Tech
A six-week placement allowed students to move far beyond work shadowing. From day one, the interns were embedded within IRIS Software Group's IT departments, tackling practical, real-world tasks alongside experienced professionals.
Whether diagnosing hardware issues, learning the fundamentals of enterprise software infrastructure, or collaborating on internal tech workflows, the students were given genuine responsibility.
The practical, immersiveness of the project left a lasting impression on the cohort:
“I had a great time and learnt a lot. It was way more hands-on than I thought it would be!”
— Day One Intern
By overcoming practical challenges and contributing to live projects, the students rapidly built both technical capability and everyday workplace confidence.
Mentorship and Practical Support
Navigating a corporate environment for six full weeks can feel intimidating for young people, but the team at IRIS Software Group ensured that every intern felt supported at each step of their journey.
Colleagues took the time to break down complex tech concepts, offer step-by-step guidance, and provide feedback on soft skills such as communication, teamwork, and task management. These small, daily interactions helped bridge the gap between education and employment.
The host team was equally impressed by the energy, dedication, and adaptability brought by the students throughout the summer.
“It’s been another successful year. Everyone was very pleased with the interns, and they are happy to have them back again.”
— Charlotte, Talent Acquisition at IRIS Software Group
Transforming Futures, One Placement at a Time
Longer placements like this six-week program demonstrate the tangible value of corporate partnerships in youth employment. The students returned to Oldham Sixth Form College and Trinity Church of England High School with real-world skills, clear career paths, and valuable achievements to feature on their CVs.
We would like to extend our sincere thanks to IRIS Software Group for their commitment to nurturing the next generation of tech talent, as well as to the staff at Oldham Sixth Form College and Trinity Church of England High School for supporting their students throughout the application and internship process.
Alusine's paid internship with Total Energies
March 2026
Paid work experience is hugely valuable for the school leavers we support, and we’re delighted that TotalEnergies took us up on the opportunity to pilot this in their Canary Wharf offices. Together with our partner, New City College in Hackney, 21-year-old Alusine spent three days with the IT department at TotalEnergies. IT Manager Mitul Daya took Alusine under his wing as he experienced life inside a busy corporate workplace.
Feeling welcomed from day one
Throughout the three days, members of the IT team took time to explain their work, answer questions and encourage Alusine to get involved: “When I arrived, I didn’t know what to expect,” he says. “But everyone was really welcoming and supportive.”
Having people break things down and check how he was getting on helped him quickly feel comfortable in an unfamiliar environment: “The team made it such a great place to be. They explained things in a way that made sense to me and always made sure I was okay and understood what was going on.”
Beyond the IT team, other colleagues also supported Alusine during the placement. Some helped him improve his CV, while others such as Royston (pictured below) regularly checked in to see how he was finding the experience. They were small moments that made a big difference: “That really helped my confidence. It made me feel like people genuinely cared about helping me learn.”
Learning by being part of the team
Rather than just watching from the sidelines, Alusine was encouraged to get involved and try things for himself: “I was kept busy and able to help with different tasks. It made me feel like part of the team.”
During the placement he supported the team with practical work such as setting up workstations and mobile devices, swapping out old docking stations and helping respond to IT requests from staff across the office. He also got a glimpse of the systems that keep a large organisation running behind the scenes, including updating internal databases and observing disaster recovery testing.
Even though many of the tasks were new to him, the team’s guidance helped him quickly build confidence: “Before I started, I wasn’t sure if I could handle working in a real office environment. But everyone was so supportive and patient that it helped me believe I could.”
By the end of the placement, Alusine says the experience had changed how he sees his future: “It showed me what working life can actually be like. When it was time to leave, I honestly wished I could stay longer.”
Mitual Daya, IT Manager at Total Energies, says: “Alusine was engaged and a quick learner, we were really pleased to have him with us and delighted to be in a position to provide paid work experience for someone committed to a career in IT. We're look forward to doing more of this with Day One.”
A message to businesses
Reflecting on the experience, Alusine has simple advice for other young people: “Don’t be afraid to ask questions and get involved. The more you try things yourself, the more you learn.”
And for businesses considering offering work experience placements, his message is clear: “Giving young people the chance to be there and try real tasks makes a huge difference.”
At Day One, we see first-hand how experiences like this can transform a young person’s confidence and sense of possibility. If your organisation could offer a short work placement, we’d love to hear from you. Together we can help more young people realise they can belong and thrive in tech. Email office@mydayone.org.uk or visit www.mydayone.org.uk.
Daniel's AI and tech internship: part two
January 2026
A few months ago on this page, we introduced you to Daniel, age 18 from Manchester.
Daniel was unsure what his future could look like as a working class person facing an unstable job market and the challenges of breaking into the tech world of work. But he was about to start a four-week paid AI-focused work experience, organised by us, and he was excited!
Now, he tells us how this new challenge with Iris Software Group boosted his confidence, taught him new skills, and made him ready for the world of work.This summer was our first as a charity, and we’re pleased to share we connected nine school leavers with paid work experience with Iris Software Group and Town Legal. They were paid Manchester and London Living Wage, plus a travel subsidy to overcome barriers to access. Hear from Daniel, age 18, in this video to learn about the support we gave him before his internship began. Follow-up to come!
Thriving in our tech masterclasses
November 2025
As told by Jade, our Careers & Development Lead in Manchester
This autumn term, 22 Year 12 students at Trinity CofE Sixth Form in Manchester, and 20 students at Lillian Baylis school in London, have been designing real websites for a culturally inclusive meal-prep business.
"I like how interactive it is, and the brief is very relevant to us."
Working in small teams, the students have been taking on roles you’d find in a real tech company: Scrum Master, Product Manager, User Researcher and more. For some of the students, this is a completely new and unfamiliar challenge - but they have all taken the task head on and are thriving.
“Exposing our students to the working world in school is invaluable. Day One’s masterclasses provide unique insight into the approach industry takes and our students really enjoy the practical hands-on approach.”
- Ronnie Adom, Head of IT at Lillian Baylis school
I really love connecting our young people with real-life tech professionals who volunteer with Day One. Hippo Digital are working with us in London while here in Manchester, software engineer Ahmed Vegah from MadeTech has been an outstanding support — delivering sessions alongside me each week, helping students explore agile working, user research and teamwork. The group also had a sprint review with Pavan Konanur from Hoja.ai, gaining valuable feedback on their progress and presentation skills, and Alex from Peak AI joined us for a session on design and how to use the software, Figma. These interactions are so important for young people who don’t know anybody working in an office, let alone the tech sector. It helps to inspire!
"I like how we are treated like work colleagues, not students."
If you or your company would like to volunteer, or provide paid work experience opportunities or Insight Days, we’d love to hear from you. Your experience could be the moment a young person realises they can belong and thrive in tech.
Daniel's AI and tech internship: part one
October 2025
This summer was our first as a charity, and we’re pleased to share we connected nine school leavers with paid work experience with Iris Software Group and Town Legal. They were paid Manchester and London Living Wage, plus a travel subsidy to overcome barriers to access. Hear from Daniel, age 18, in this video to learn about the support we gave him before his internship began. Follow-up to come!
From Classroom to Career: How Kingsley Secured a Software Engineering Degree Apprenticeship with Royal London
September 2025
When it comes to starting a career, sometimes one single session can change everything. For Kingsley, a student at Oldham Sixth Form College, attending a tailored careers event opened the door to an exciting future he hadn’t previously considered.
Kingsley recently secured a prestigious 4-year Software Engineering Degree Apprenticeship with Royal London in Manchester, an opportunity that Day One had set up for students at Oldham Sixth Form College in partnership with ADA & Royal London.
A Session That Changed the Game
The session was designed to demystify the application process for school leavers, combining an interactive Q&A with actionable advice on writing strong applications and navigating multi-stage interviews.
For Kingsley, the impact was immediate:
“I have never heard of Royal London before Jade from Day One came in, but that session was really informative and to be able to get it as well felt like a dream. If I had never had that session, I wouldn’t have felt confident enough to apply for it let alone know about the opportunity itself.”
Now, Kingsley is officially embarking on his four-year journey, building real-world software engineering skills while earning a degree, all supported by one of the UK's leading financial services firms.
Why Employer Engagement Matters
Kingsley’s success story highlights exactly why employer engagements are essential for school leavers. Beyond simply showcasing job titles, these sessions:
- Build Confidence: Demystify corporate application processes and interview expectations so students feel ready to compete.
- Expand Horizons: Introduce young people to major companies and career paths they might not have otherwise known existed.
- Provide Practical Tools: Give actionable advice on CV building, personal statements, and interviewing directly from hiring teams.
We wish Kingsley the absolute best of luck as he begins his software engineering career with Royal London!
Partner With Us
Are you an employer looking to inspire the next generation of tech talent, or a school wanting to host impactful career sessions for your students? To find out how you can get involved in future employer engagement events, reach out to us at jade@mydayone.org.uk.
Paid work experience for our school leavers
July 2025
Paid work experience is transformative for school leavers, and particularly important for young people without access to opportunities and support through their networks and connections. It helps them build skills, networks and the confidence to navigate professional life.
With youth unemployment in the UK at a record high, we are delighted to be working with IRIS Software Group and Town Legal LLP to make a difference. This summer, eight school leavers are benefitting from valuable work experience that’s paid! Here's Reuben and Sudi on day two of their week with Town Legal LLP, getting stuck into real-life tasks and learning the ins and outs of planning law.
We’re handling the payroll and providing support to ensure young people are ready to make the most of the opportunity. The young people are paid London Living Wage plus a travel subsidy, which means this powerful intervention costs just £500 per school leaver per week.
When young people have four or more encounters with employers, they are over 80% less likely to end up NEET. Contact us if you’d like to learn more about how we can work together to tackle youth unemployment and give opportunities to diverse talent.
Day One is now a registered charity!
June 2025
We are very pleased to announce that Day One Opportunities for School Leavers is now registered with the charity commission as a Charitable Incorporated Organisation (CIO). Our charity commission registration number is 1213814.
And here’s the small print… The Intrapreneurs Club Community Interest Community (CIC), a company ltd by guarantee (trading as Day One), has been converted from a CIC to a CIO. The Intrapreneurs Club CIC will be deregistered by Companies House.
The converted CIO with the name, "Day One Opportunities for School Leavers" is now registered solely with the Charity Commission. This conversion has not changed our legal identity as an organisation.
Want to find out more?
