• The Employ Autism Higher Education Network will enable autistic students studying at universities to access paid internships and tailored careers support and advice.
• Latest research has found that autistic graduates are the least likely of all disabled students to find employment following their studies.
• The new programme aims to create sustainable employment opportunities for autistic young people across the UK.
Santander, through Santander Universities, is coordinating a £1million investment into a ground-breaking higher education employability programme that will unlock the potential of hundreds of autistic students and boost the neurodiversity of the nation’s workforce.
Working in partnership with Ambitious about Autism, the national charity for children and young people with autism, the Employ Autism Higher Education Network initiative launched by Santander Universities will enable autistic students studying at universities across the UK to access paid internships and tailored careers support and advice.
Latest research has found that autistic graduates are the least likely of all disabled students to find employment following their studies – with only 33% in full-time work(1).
This new programme aims to tackle this issue by ensuring autistic students and graduates have access to meaningful employment experience. It will also ensure businesses can benefit from neurodiverse talent within their workforces.
Chief Executive of Ambitious about Autism, Jolanta Lasota, said: “Autistic students and graduates are among our brightest talents and yet too many face a much more challenging path into long-term employment than their neurotypical peers.
“Through our fantastic new partnership, Santander will be at the forefront of a nationwide drive to change this and transform the neurodiversity of our workforce. We will equip universities with the skills and knowledge to support these students into careers that match their talents with employers who can embrace difference.”
Matt Hutnell, Director of Santander Universities UK said: “Santander is committed to supporting students from diverse backgrounds into university, work and self-employment so we’re pleased to join forces with Ambitious about Autism and a number of our university partners to launch this pioneering new programme. By working together, we hope to improve employment outcomes for autistic students and graduates by providing life changing opportunities.”
Minister for Disabled People, Justin Tomlinson, said: “It’s great to see Santander leading by example by investing in the often untapped talent of autistic young people. Through innovative programmes like this, alongside the support that is available through government-funded programmes like Access to Work, we’re working together to unlock potential and remove barriers to employment.”
Over the course of the programme careers and employability professionals working within the new network of 17 universities will receive specialist training and support from Ambitious about Autism to work specifically with autistic students, helping to guide them into sustainable employment.
Working with professionals who understand their needs, students will receive support to identify roles that match their skills and given help with the application and recruitment process, which often needs to be adapted to allow autistic young people to shine.
Each university will then also work with local employers to create opportunities for these students to take part in internships with autism-confident businesses, providing them with valuable ‘on the job’ experience in a supportive environment.
In addition to this programme, Santander will also work with Ambitious about Autism to become an ‘autism confident’ employer. The charity will look at further ways to support the bank’s commitment to diversity and inclusion which sits at the heart of Santander’s pledge to creating a thriving workplace.
Santander and Ambitious about Autism’s Employ Autism Higher Education Network programme will bring together the higher education sector and employers to create further lasting employment opportunities for autistic young people across the UK. For more information visit: www.ambitiousaboutautism.org.uk.
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Media Enquiries
For further information about Ambitious about Autism please contact Cat Ferris on cferris@ambitiousaboutautism.org.uk or call 07850 915716.
For Santander information please contact Leonora Burtenshaw on leonora.burtenshaw@santander.co.uk or call 07701004107.
Notes to Editors
1. Research on disabled graduate unemployment taken from the What Happens Next? 2019 report by the Association of Graduate Careers Advisory Services. Survey of 45,175 disabled students.
Ambitious about Autism is the national charity for children and young people with autism. We provide services, raise awareness and understanding, and campaign for change. Through TreeHouse School, Ambitious College and the Rise School, we offer specialist education and support.
Employ Autism helps autistic people join the workforce by breaking down barriers and increasing confidence in autism and neurodiversity. The programme delivers training, resources and on-going mentorship to a wide range of partners across the UK including employers, careers professionals, parents and young people.
Santander Universities
Banco Santander is firmly committed to progress and inclusive, sustainable growth, with a long-standing dedication to higher education that sets it apart from the world's other financial institutions. With over EUR 1,800 million invested in academic initiatives since 2002 through Santander Universities and over 430,000 university scholarships and grants awarded since 2005, it has been recognized as the company that invests most in education in the world (Varkey/Fortune 500 Report), with 1,000 agreements in place with universities and institutions in 22 countries, of which over 80 are in the UK. Through these agreements Santander promotes education, entrepreneurship and employability. For further information please visit: www.santander.co.uk/uk/santander-universities.
Santander UK is a financial services provider in the UK that offers a wide range of personal and commercial financial products and services. At 30 June 2020, the bank had around 23,000 employees and serves around 14 million active customers, via a nationwide branch network, telephone, mobile and online banking. Santander UK is subject to the full supervision of the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) and the Prudential Regulation Authority (PRA) in the UK. Santander UK plc customers’ eligible deposits are protected by the Financial Services Compensation Scheme (FSCS) in the UK.
Banco Santander (SAN SM, STD US, BNC LN) is a leading retail and commercial bank, founded in 1857 and headquartered in Spain. It has a meaningful presence in 10 core markets in Europe and the Americas, and is one of the largest banks in the world by market capitalization. Its purpose is to help people and businesses prosper in a simple, personal and fair way. Santander is building a more responsible bank and has made a number of commitments to support this objective, including raising over €120 billion in green financing between 2019 and 2025, as well as financially empowering more than 10 million people over the same period. At the end of the first half of 2020, Banco Santander had more than a trillion euros in total funds, 146 million customers, of which 21.5 million are loyal and 40 million are digital, 11,800 branches and 194,000 employees.