Next to join our Autism at Work programme is AMS, a global workforce solutions firm. AMS works with organisations across multiple sectors, from Investment Banking and government, to Pharmaceutical and Lifescience services.

Since joining the programme, AMS has hired two autistic employees (including Samuel) on permanent contracts. This is an amazing achievement, and we hope other companies can follow in AMS's footsteps.

To talk more about this, we caught up with Kim Bryan, Head of Global Insights – Sourcing Centre of Excellence at AMS, and mum to an autistic son. Kim chats to us about getting involved with the Autism at Work scheme, making autism-friendly adjustments in the workplace, and more...

What made you decide to join our Autism at Work programme?

As a mum to a teenage boy who was diagnosed after he started secondary school, I’m aware of the challenges he may face as an autistic person in the workplace. I wanted to start small, offering opportunities to people like my son, so that others could see the value autistic people bring to AMS.

Did the staff at AMS know much about autism before joining our programme?

AMS has always had a progressive approach to diversity, equity and inclusion. Our staff members already knew quite a bit about autism, however, they were keen to learn more, and to educate themselves on how to work with autistic team members.

How did you decide on a suitable role or team for your autistic candidates?

Our local senior management team and centre leader came together to discuss potential roles across our Belfast Service Centre. They considered the responsibilities, duties, expectations, and team setup for each role.

What did you feel you could offer the candidates and what did you hope to gain as an organisation?

We felt we could offer an incredibly supportive team environment and a culture where people from various backgrounds have always thrived in the past.

What makes our teams really special is the diversity of thought and experiences that different employees bring to the table, and we wanted to gain even more. We also hoped to further improve our organisation's understanding of autism and continue to improve the ways we work with our employees.

What has the team gained from the experience?

They have learnt how to express themselves in different and alternative ways. They understand the importance of clear communication and setting expectations, and they have learned more about working with autistic colleagues.

Would you encourage other organisations to take part in the Autism at Work programme?

Yes - please don’t hesitate! The recruitment market is incredibly intense at the moment, and employers cannot afford to ignore talented candidates.

With a little thought and effort, and some minor adjustments that will benefit everyone in your organisation, you will very quickly start to feel the value of having an autistic employee as part of your team.

Any tips for employers joining the programme?

Give some thought to ALL aspects of your processes, especially hiring, referencing and helpdesks.

These processes can be unnecessarily confusing or stressful for autistic employees or jobseekers – it’s worth trying to remove any unnecessary steps upfront! The National Autistic Society team will let you know which aspects of the process might be more difficult for autistic people, and how to adapt them.

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