SUPPORTED INTERNSHIP APPLICATION FORM FOR SEPTEMBER 2026

 

We are delighted that you are interested in this Supported Internship programme for autistic learners, designed by key staff at The Wherry School (Norwich), DFN Project Search and the host business Aviva (Norwich)

Aviva have identified several roles based at their Surrey Street, Norwich offices. These roles cover a range of business activities from supporting underwriters in the Data Science and Analytics team, to supporting the cybersecurity teams in the Chief Information and Security Office.

Please have a look at the information below from colleagues at Aviva to help you decide within which area you would like to work; there are different roles in each of the teams and you can consider working in more than one team.

 

Who Are Aviva?

 

Aviva - with you today, for a better tomorrow

For more than 320 years, we've been looking after our customers and helping them prepare for the unexpected - - we've learned a lot during this time, and we use that knowledge to help our customers enjoy life their way. That's why over 18.7 million people in the UK, Ireland and Canada choose us - to protect what they have and to help them plan their future.

That future might seem a long way off, but the small steps you take now can make a big difference later. We'll be with you every step of the way, helping you reach your dreams and build a brighter, happier future together.

 

Potential Internship Fields:

 

Data Science and Analytics:

The insurance industry is evolving rapidly because of advances in technology. At Aviva we are using tools like data science, machine learning and smart analysis to improve the experience of our customers. The work in this area helps us move towards this goal by analysing data and suggesting new ways to improve existing systems. For example, the data could help Aviva to set prices, decide whether someone can or should get insurance or improve accounting processes. This department is all about using data to make smarter choices and improve everything for our customers.

Working in the Data Science and Analytics team will be rewarding if you enjoy figuring out problems and finding solutions using data. You will be someone who likes numbers and might have even tried programming before; if you have a GCSE level 4 in maths you will be able to do this job. If you want to succeed in this department you will be organised and careful when solving problems and be able to work with your colleagues to find the best solutions.

Chief Information Security Office - CISO

People, data and personal information are extremely valuable; our job at CISO is to help look after our people, our customer data and protect the systems we use daily from the threat of cyber-attack.

While in CISO you could be working on;

• Cyber Resilience: making sure that the company can still work safely and securely, no matter what happens.
• Cyber Operations: making sure that everyone in the company can use our systems and equipment in a safe and secure manner.
• Risk Management and Incident Support: making sure that if anything goes wrong, the company can handle it and stay safe.

An interest in technology and the world of cybersecurity will be key here in this ever-changing space.

 

Chief Information Office - CIO

Technology is central to every product or service offered at Aviva. The CIO takes care of all the technology we use, from the products we offer to the services we provide.

Working with CIO will include;

• Building great systems where everything works reliably, quickly and is easy to use for our customers.
• Making the company more efficient by reusing and recycling parts of our technology to save time and resources.
• Helping the company to grow by making it easy to add new products and improve services.

An interest and excitement about technology and an understanding of the positive impact it can have on the whole organisation and all our customers will be key here for someone working with this team.

 

Customer Operations

The customer is at the heart of everything we do at Aviva. The customer operations teams are the ones who talk to customers, answer their questions and help fix problems every day. They quickly understand what the customer needs and either solve the problem right away or give the right advice to help them.

A passion for helping people and making sure they feel supported by Aviva at every step is vital to success in this space.

 

People Function

Our people are the most valuable part of what we do. We make sure we are looking after them by rewarding their hard work, helping them grow in their careers and giving advice to teams on how to work better and smarter. The People Function team support everyone in Aviva every day.

Working in this space you'll be alongside people who want others to do their best and feel great about their jobs. Together you'll make sure that our customers are served to the very best level.

To apply for The Wherry School/Aviva/DFN Project SEARCH please fill out this application form.

Make sure we have your application by 2nd February 2026

Please fill in as much of this form as you are able to. If you miss out one or two questions please still send us your application as we would like to know about you anyway. Please take as much space as you need to answer each question.

Section A: The following information can be completed on behalf of the applicant.

Applicant Information:

Parent/Guardian/Carer Information:

Medical and health information:

 

Do you have any medical information you would like to share with us? i.e. hearing impairment, epilepsy, diabetes etc.

This information will help us identify what additional support needs you might have if your application is successful.

 

Section B: Application Questions:

 

Please choose the appropriate answer to the questions below.

If you have any comments please select "Other" and use the text box.

Q7. Mark on the scales below where you think that you best fit:

Q8. What previous learning around careers have you completed at school/college?

This could be:

assemblies or form times about different industries

visits from people telling you about their jobs

talks about apprenticeships or universities

careers fairs

Q9. Tell us about any work experience, teamwork or leadership experience you have undertaken:

This could be:

organised work experience

charity work

school projects or coursework

working at a family business

playing in sports teams or bands

Scouts etc.

Please include as much detail as possible including the setting, your role and responsibilities and any relevant dates.

Q10. Tell us about yourself. Do you have any interests or hobbies?  Is there anything that you feel you are particularly good at? What do you like to spend your time doing? Do you like to spend your time with friends or family, online or out of the house, listening to music or in silence? Is there anything that is very important to you?

You can write as much or as little as you like here, but the more that you include, the better we can get to know you and prepare for a more successful placement.

You can write in full sentences or bullet points.

Q11. Do you have any ideas of what you would like to do in the future? If you're not sure how to answer, think about answering some of the questions below.

Are there any jobs that you have thought about doing or any industries that you would like to work in?

Do you have a favourite subject that you would like to continue learning about when you finish school/college?

Is there anything that you find exciting when you think about life after education?

Is there something that would be very important to you in a job? - this could be helping people, earning money, learning about the world, independence, making a difference, travelling...

If you could talk to your future self, what questions would you ask?

Can you see yourself working in one job or company for a long time or do you think you would like to do lots of different things?

Supported Internship Roles

Please see the information provided by Aviva at the beginning of the form about the areas where internships are being offered.

 

Q12. Please indicate any areas/job you might like to work within then explain in a couple of sentences what interests you about the role- you can fill out as many as you like:

 

Section C: References.

Can be completed on behalf of the applicant.  Please fill in the following reference information.  One reference should be from a current or most recent educator and the second should be a character reference from someone other than a parent or guardian e.g. social worker, family friend, work experience colleague etc.

Reference 1:

Reference 2:

To be signed by the applicant:

If this form has been filled out by another person on behalf of the applicant please sign here:

Important dates:

Applications are to be submitted by Monday 2nd February 2026

Applicants who are successful in moving to the second stage will be informed by: Friday 13th February 2026

Recruitment day at Aviva, Surrey Street, Norwich: Wednesday 18th March 2026

 

For those attending the Aviva Recruitment Day - photographic identification (ID) will be required by the applicant and, where applicable, the carer or staff member attending the session.