Aspens Employability supports adults on the autism spectrum and with learning disabilities into meaningful employment through a City and Guilds Skills for Working Life Qualification as well as practical job coaching people into meaningful employment. 

Meaningful employment matches the aspirations and needs of the individual and will look different for each person. It will be employment that aligns with the individual’s skills, interests, hobbies and talents. Meaningful employment will also reflect the needs of the individual, this could be part-time or full-time employment, in-placement work or working from home or a hybrid of this, voluntary or paid, an apprenticeship or internship, an experience placement or a permanent contract.

For some individuals this could be employment where they are supported by the Employability Lead as a job coach in their role as they transition to employment, for others they would be able to go straight into a role.

City and guilds skills for working life qualification

The City and Guilds Skills for Working Life Qualification is structured around training from both the Employability Lead and the sessions individuals attend. The training programme is designed to support and motivate people where traditional classroom-based learning is not appropriate. The training is person-centred and tailored to the individual needs of the candidates. The qualification is made up of many units related to workplace skills, such as ‘preparing for work’, ‘animal care’, ‘horticulture’, ‘hospitality, catering and retail’ and many more. Individuals will choose units which are appropriate to the career path they aspire to.

The qualification consists of two elements. The first element is the practical evidence, this takes up a much larger percentage of the qualification and is evidenced through individuals engaging in actively completing physical tasks related to the unit. The second element is the knowledge evidence, where individuals will give responses to questions relating to the units they are completing.

The delivery of this course also involves practical job coaching. This means individuals will receive training on all elements of employment, from how to search for a job right through to how to conduct yourself in the workplace. 

My employment passport

This training is further enhanced by an optional 30-week course of My Employment Passport, a resource created by Richard Lamplough which has been shortlisted for the Career Development Institute's Career Programme of The Year. My Employment Passport has been specifically designed to support people on the autism spectrum or with learning disabilities into meaningful employment and has many success stories. Find out more here. 

Empowering people with disabilities to find employment

The primary purpose of this is to empower people supported by Aspens into meaningful employment. The percentage of people on the autism spectrum or with a learning disability who are in paid employment is significantly lower than the national figure for all adults in paid employment; we want to close the gap and support people to achieve their aspirations, face less discrimination and not only promote inclusivity, but really show what a fantastic asset these individuals would be to an employer. When individuals work towards their employment aspirations through the courses we deliver, they are actively involved in shaping their future, they have a sense of ownership and pride in their work, they are making regular achievements and their journey towards greater levels of independence is nourished.

We work in partnership with our onsite training café, which is open to the public, to give the people we support practical training in a real life environment. 

There are several success stories from people who have previously been part of this work. One example is an individual who is personable, practical and enjoys working in DIY who has been employed part-time in a paid contract for many years now. This suits the individual’s needs and lifestyle and he is fulfilled, happy and enjoys his independence. Another example is an individual who wanted to work in hospitality who completed the course and now has a part-time paid role at a café where she has worked for several years. 

Get in touch

If you would like to be part of Aspens Employability, please get in touch.

If you are an employer who wants to make a difference to people in your local community by giving individuals on the autism spectrum or with learning disabilities the opportunity to thrive and be an asset to your business, we'd love to hear from you to discuss how you could work in partnership with us.

If this is you or you know someone who could improve local employment for people on the autism spectrum or with learning disabilities then please get do get in touch at the details below.

Contact Serena Duffield, Employability Lead at [email protected] / 01892 820342