DFN Project SEARCH

What DFN Project SEARCH does

DFN Project SEARCH is a UK registered charity that designs and delivers a supported internship programme for young adults aged approximately 18+ with learning disabilities or autism spectrum conditions, helping them transition from education into meaningful permanent employment through structured in-work job coaching delivered on employer premises. The charity operates a core programme that places interns with 200+ host-business partner sites across the UK public and private sector, reporting a 60%+ conversion rate into full-time employment and 2,900+ cumulative placements to date, with a stated 2030 target of supporting 10,000 interns into employment. The offering is augmented by an advocacy and engagement layer that includes a Youth Advisory Group, a Shadow Board session held in Parliament, an Alumni/Graduate Network, and the annually held National Supported Internship Day (NSID), which the charity itself founded in 2023.

The underlying delivery model is service- rather than software-based: there is no proprietary technology platform, no APIs, no AI/ML components, and no mobile app; instead the IP lies in the methodology, employer relationships, coaching framework, brand recognition (including Disability Confident Leader status and CPD certification), and multi-stakeholder events. The charity is registered in England & Wales (with conflicting disclosed numbers 1155919 and 1183834) and in Scotland (SC049891), and is led operationally with a small staff complement of 11-50 employees.

The revenue model is non-commercial: the charity does not charge programme participants and funds its activities through charitable donations and fundraising activity (conducted under Chartered Institute of Fundraising, Fundraising Regulator, ICO and Charity Commission guidance, with Gift Aid processing) and through government and public-sector grants. Direct employer partner engagement is conducted as a relationship-based, field-style enterprise sales motion rather than a paid service. A multi-channel awareness engine - social media across six platforms (Instagram, Facebook, X, LinkedIn, YouTube, TikTok), annual events such as NSID and Youth Parliament, and advocacy campaigns such as Wear Orange and Light Up - is used to recruit host employers and young adults and to advocate for sustained sector funding beyond March 2026.

Name

DFN Project SEARCH

Legal name

DFN Project SEARCH

Website

https://dfnprojectsearch.org

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

DFN Project SEARCH is a UK national charity running a supported internship programme that places young adults with learning disabilities or autism with 200+ public and private host employers, providing structured in-work job coaching to transition them into permanent employment.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Disability Employment Services

NAICS

Vocational Rehabilitation Services (6243), Educational Support Services (611710), Educational Support Services (61171)

SIC

Services-Employment Agencies (7361), Services-Educational Services (8200), Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

Learning Disabilities & Dyslexia Schools & Programs (EDAKAAAB)

akta.pro secondary industry

Parent & Caregiver Training for LD/Dyslexia Support (EDAKAJAJ)

Keywords

• Supported internships
• Disability employment
• Vocational rehabilitation
• Autism employment
• Workplace inclusion

Headquarters

HQ city

London

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Charitable donations and fundraising: The charity operates fundraising activities in accordance with internal policies and procedures, guidance from the Chartered Institute of Fundraising, the Fundraising Regulator, Information Commissioners Office, and the Charity Commission. They accept donations and process Gift Aid claims.
2. Government and public funding: The charity works with government bodies and public sector organisations. Their MP outreach template references sustained funding requirements and mentions that programmes deliver results but face funding uncertainty beyond March 2026.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

DFN Project SEARCH provides a structured supported internship programme that places young adults with learning disabilities or autism spectrum condition into UK workplaces, pairing them with in-work job coaching to enable a positive transition from education into meaningful permanent employment. The programme is delivered through 200+ partner sites across the UK public and private sectors, free of charge to participants, with the charity funded by donations, fundraising, and government/public sector grants.

Product overview

DFN Project SEARCH operates primarily as a supported internship programme rather than a traditional software product. The core offering is a structured supported internship programme that provides in-work job coaching for young adults with learning disabilities or autism. Additional offerings include the annual National Supported Internship Day (launched 2023), Youth Advisory Group, Shadow Board, and Alumni/Graduate Network. The organisation also provides advocacy resources, MP engagement materials, and event coordination for the supported internship sector. The website serves as an informational portal for employers, parents/carers, and young people to learn about and engage with the programme.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Supported Internship Programme A structured supported internship programme providing young adults with learning disabilities or autism spectrum condition with in-work job coaching to facilitate their transition from education into meaningful permanent employment. Delivered free of charge to participants through 200+ UK partner sites in the public and private sector.

Quantifiable outcome

• 60%+ of interns move into meaningful full-time employment after completing the supported internship programme
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• 200+ Partner Sites (Public and Private Sector)coreOthersDFN Project SEARCH works with over 200 partner sites across the UK public and private sector. These host businesses provide supported internship placements where young adults with learning disabilities or autism can gain work experience and transition into meaningful employment.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Project SEARCH: The original US-based supported internship programme founded at Cincinnati Children's Hospital. DFN Project SEARCH is the UK affiliate/licensee running the same model, making this the most directly comparable organisation.
• Remploy: UK provider of employment services for disabled people, including into mainstream employment. Comparable on the core activity of placing disabled candidates into paid work and supporting employers, but operates on a commercial/government-contract model.

Others

• BASE (British Association for Supported Employment): UK membership body promoting the supported employment model. Comparable as the sector's professional umbrella, with overlapping employer and provider network, though BASE is an industry association rather than a direct delivery charity.

Broad incumbents

• Mencap: One of the largest UK learning disability charities. Comparable because both serve people with learning disabilities and advocate for employment and inclusion outcomes, though Mencap operates across a much wider service portfolio.
• Hft: National UK charity supporting people with learning disabilities. Comparable in mission and beneficiary base, with overlap on employment and day-service provision, though Hft's portfolio spans supported living and care rather than focused internship delivery.
• National Autistic Society: UK-wide charity serving autistic people, including into employment. Comparable on target population overlap (autism spectrum condition) and on transition-to-employment advocacy, but with a much broader remit beyond supported internships.
• Leonard Cheshire: UK and international disability charity supporting disabled people into education, employment, and independent living. Comparable in employment-focused programmes for disabled beneficiaries and in scale of UK-wide operations.
• British Dyslexia Association: UK charity for dyslexic and neurodivergent people, with overlap on the learning-disability beneficiary base. Comparable on mission, but its focus is awareness, screening, and workplace advice rather than supported internship delivery.
• United Response: UK disability charity providing supported employment, personalisation, and care services. Comparable because both deliver employment support to people with learning disabilities and autism, though United Response's scope is broader.

Emerging players

• Ambitious about Autism: UK charity focused on education and transition outcomes for autistic young people. Comparable on transition-to-adulthood support, but its primary focus is schools and college provision rather than direct in-work coaching.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/dfnsearch
• YouTubeyoutube.com/@dfnprojectsearch7201
• Facebookfacebook.com/DFNProjectSEARCH
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/dfn-project-search
• Instagraminstagram.com/dfnprojectsearch
• TikToktiktok.com/@dfnprojectsearch

Compliance3 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about DFN Project SEARCH