Our offer for candidates
We provide paid work experiences for autistic young people aged 18 and over through our Employ Autism programme.
The opportunities we offer are with employers who have undertaken our full training on understanding autism in the workplace. Check out our current opportunities. Sign up today to receive updates on work opportunities and resources for autistic people in your area.
What can we offer you?
Some of our opportunities offer additional services to applicants aged 18-25 years old, such as support during the recruitment process, feedback on applications and ongoing careers advice. These additional services will be specified on the job advert. You can read our policy on delivering this service by clicking here.
The type of additional service our team can offer is:
- pre application guidance including CV checking and advice on role suitability
- recruitment support such as assistance with job applications and practice interviews
- support during and after the internship including regular check ins
- careers guidance during and following the placement
- assistance with application forms
- practice interviews
- candidate profile building to identify strengths and adjustments.
Applicants can decide how often they would like our support as well as what areas of our service they would like to gain access to. To see how we can support you, see the recruitment journey below or view a larger version in a separate document [opens PDF].
Our team
Our expert and friendly team work with candidates throughout the recruitment process.
They can be contacted by email, telephone, video call or an in-person meeting.
Felicity Carter
Programme Manager
- Provides advice and expertise to employers to adapt their recruitment processes, design internships and support young autistic people in the workplace
- Background in delivering training.
Find out more about Felicity by reading her one page profile.
Charlotte Kupper
Careers Advisor
- Qualified careers advisor (Level 6)
- Registered careers development professional
- Over 20 years’ experience working with school leavers, graduates, and jobseekers
- Expert knowledge of career options
- Specialist knowledge of neurodiversity and mental health
- Careers guidance is delivered remotely on Microsoft Teams / phone call.
Find out more about Charlotte by reading her one page profile.
Melissa Roper
Administrator
- First point of contact for young people applying for paid work opportunities
- Through previous job and volunteer roles, Melissa has experience supporting autistic children, young people and adults in various aspects of their lives.
Find out more about Melissa by reading her one page profile.
Nik Tourani
Information, Advice and Guidance Officer
- Support autistic young people throughout the process of applying for work experience placements
- Identifying workplace adjustments, and making pre- and post-placement preparations.
Find out more about Nik by reading his one page profile.
To be eligible for our services you must be:
- autistic
- aged 18 or over
- applying /applied for a position which offers additional candidate services.
If you do not meet the above criteria please have a look at the below organisations:
Access to our services is via appointment only. If you have a general enquiry please email our team.
You can make an appointment to meet with our team via email. We can meet with you in person at Pears National Centre for Autism, online (MS Teams or Zoom) or we can schedule a phone call.
- Skills development - employers will give you on-the-job skills development, which is great for applying for paid work, and brilliant for your CV!
- Increased confidence - many of the young people who take part report an increase in self-worth, feel more confident and ready to work.
- Brilliant experience - all of the young people who have taken part, so far, say they would recommend the programme to others and many have made new friends.
You will need to be available to:
- complete the application form
- attend an informal introductory meeting or interview with an employer
- attend the work experience placement
- provide feedback to Ambitious about Autism about your experience.
Placements last from two weeks up to six months and the time commitments for specific roles can be found in the application pack for each vacancy.
Most of our placements are paid however, the employer will not cover additional travel expenses and subsistence. If the placement is unpaid, all of our partner employers make a commitment to cover reasonable travel expenses.
Employers do not pay for breakfast, lunch or dinner expenses, as they determine these fall outside of working hours. If you are working early in the morning or in the evening, for example, or if you are asked to attend an event, then employers should cover your expenses. This is decided by each individual employer.
Our programme originated in London and the majority of our placements are in London and the Home Counties. However, we are now expanding across the UK.
We want to support as many autistic young people to move into work as possible, so whilst you may apply more than once there is no guarantee that you will be placed again.
The future destination for every autistic young person who takes part in the programme is different. For some young people, it might be further or higher education, for others it might be an apprenticeship or paid employment.
Most of our work experience placements are paid. If you have any questions about the impact of taking part in the programme, we would advise you to speak with the Department of Work and Pensions directly, as it will depend on your individual circumstances. You may find additional advice and support at Turn 2 Us.
Young people complete work placements in many different departments in these businesses, from HR to finance to communications.
Here are some of the companies we have placed interns:
- Civil Service
- Deutsche Bank
- SAP UK
- Santander
- m/SIX
- The & Partnership
- TalkTalk
- Kennedy Pearce
- Public Health England
- Health Education England.
Further resources
- Download our Transition to Employment toolkit for young people designed to help prepare you for successful careers guidance sessions and work experience placements
- How to support positive mental health wellbeing
- Employers - reasons to get involved
We have been successfully accredited with the matrix Standard for delivering high quality, information, advice, and guidance.