Technology

Posted on February 12, 2019 by staff

Autistic adults wanted for Scottish tech jobs

Technology

Auticon UK has opened a new base in Scotland after securing a deal with RBS to provide jobs for people with autism.

The enterprise works exclusively to employ IT consultants on the autism spectrum, and has now confirmed a deal with RBS for them to hire three full-time autistic consultants.

The successful candidates will work on IT projects at RBS headquarters.

Auticon consultant Thomas Cowley, who has just completed a project for a London-based 3D printing company, said working for the enterprise felt “refreshingly normal”.

Cowley, 30, who has a degree in computer games design from Staffordshire University, said: “It makes me feel valued. The biggest difference is the amount of support I get, and that is a big help.

“I sit down with people every week or so, and work through the difficulties that in other companies I might simply let fester, which is a huge help.”

Only 16% of autistic adults were in full-time employment in 2016 despite 77% of people with autism who were unemployed saying they wanted to work, according to a National Autistic Society survey in 2016.

Auticon UK chief executive Ray Coyle said unemployment among autistic adults was “a major issue” in Scotland.

He said: “Our goal is to offer sustainable, long-term employment to as many autistic individuals in Scotland as possible, and we are inviting any candidates with a background in tech to get in touch.”

Auticon, which raised investment from Richard Branson’s Virgin Group and the Esmee Fairbairn Foundation charity in 2016, plans to expand in Scotland by working with major local firms and small and medium-sized enterprises.

Auticon advises clients on creating autism-friendly work environments, and offers its consultants support “to ensure they feel comfortable and are able to fulfil their potential in the workplace”.

The social enterprise employs more than 150 IT consultants on the autism spectrum in the UK, US, Germany and Italy, across companies including Experian and GlaxoSmithKline.