Second Autism: Future Employment conference to be held this Friday

An event aimed at linking North Wales businesses up with potential employees who are autistic is to be held this Friday.

The Autism: Future Employment conference will take place on Friday, January 31 at Ty Pawb on Market Street in Wrexham. It has been organised by a team led by Wrexham Glyndwr University lecturer Steve Jarvis, who also helped to put on last year’s inaugural conference.

He said: “The aim of the conferences is to link employers up with potential employees, and to help encourage them to look at ways they can work with people who are autistic – and boost their companies as a result.

“Only last week, I heard the story of someone who came along to last year’s conference in the hope of finding a job, who spoke with a local charity, secured a work placement and now is in a full-time role as a result.

“That connection between potential employee and future employer is what this conference is all about – and what our expert speakers and panel will be examining at this week’s event.”

A film from last year’s event can be seen here: https://youtu.be/IMkASe7CR5c

Among the speakers at this year’s conference are Daniel Jones, a leading YouTuber; Rhi Lloyd-Williams, a theatre MD, writer, essayist and blogger; James and April, Robot Wars competitors and the co-founders of Glitterbomb; and Andrew Edwards, an author whose life story has been featured on Radio Four and who spent many years working for Manchester United TV.

Each speaker will give a keynote address, and many will also join an afternoon panel, led by Mike Corcoran, a coach on the Business Wales

Accelerated Growth programme. As with last year’s panels, the discussion will centre around people’s experiences of employment – and how employers can benefit from employing people with autism.

Steve added: “At last year’s event, there where what you could almost describe as lightbulb moments for some employers – moments where they realised the benefit that a conference like this can offer as panel members discussed the world of work. We’ve invited major employers from across the region once more this Friday – and I’m sure they can expect similar insights from our panel once more this year.

“We’ve also got a wide range of trade stalls, charities and exhibitors taking part throughout the day – and we will be welcoming the virtual Autism tour bus, which is designed to give people an experience of what a sensory overload is like and help further their understanding of the challenges people on the autism spectrum face.”