As part of my ongoing work to close the employment gap for autistic people and those with other neurodivergent needs, I was very pleased to announce on Sunday that I have been appointed by the Prime Minister and the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions to lead a new Autism Employment Review.
People with autism have particularly low employment rates – with fewer than three in ten in work. The Buckland Review of Autism Employment, supported by the charity Autistica and the Department for Work and Pensions, is aiming to change that.
I am delighted to have been asked to lead this important Review. Our workplaces and businesses would benefit so much from the huge potential that autistic people represent.
If we close the employment gap for autistic people, it will not just mean individual fulfilment but a significant boost to employment and productivity for our country.
The Buckland Review of Autism Employment will consider issues including how employers better support autistic staff already in their workforce, what more could be done to prepare autistic people for beginning or returning to a career, and working practices or initiatives to reduce stigma.
The review will focus specifically on autistic people and aims to develop solutions that will be acceptable to them. My aim is for it to be effective at improving autistic people’s outcomes and for its proposals to be feasible for employers or public services to deliver.
The Review will also look at employers who are benefitting from a neurodiverse workforce, like London manufacturer KwickScreen, who I recently visited along with The Minister for Disabled People, Health and Work, Tom Pursglove MP. This innovative company provides transparent screens to every UK hospital and played a pivotal role in the NHS’s response to the Covid pandemic.
On a recent visit to their Lewisham base, I discovered, unsurprisingly, that many of the breakthrough initiatives in the company came from the neurodiverse members of the team.
We know autistic people can face barriers when moving into employment and staying there, my review, which will begin next month, with recommendations issued to report to the Secretary of State in September 2023, aims to remove those barriers.
Recess is always a welcome opportunity to spend even more time at home here in Swindon, visiting local businesses, organisations, and charities, as well as meeting with local residents, whilst also being able to spend a bit more time with my family during the week.
Living locally for years in South Swindon and having my office on Wood Street enables me to be both visible and approachable (something all MPs should be). It also helps me to fully ensure that I understand the issues that are important to us all.
On Monday, I was honoured to officially open Unity Place Zurich. Located in the town centre, the building has been designed to rank among the top 10% of commercial buildings for sustainability in the UK. It features electric car charging points, a storage and repair centre for bicycles, recycling points, energy-efficient LED lighting, and a beehive on the roof. Unity Place will be powered completely by renewable electricity. This building is a catalyst for regeneration and new development here in Swindon and demonstrates Zurich’s commitment to Swindon, where it has a long history as one of the town’s largest employers.
Finally, my local charity of the week is Threshold Housing. For over forty years, this excellent charity has been working to prevent homelessness in Swindon. The brilliant team at Threshold are dedicated to helping vulnerable people to create a better life and independence.
The charity has developed services to meet the needs of Swindon's community as identified by their service users. These include a street outreach service, offering advice and support, and three general needs supported accommodation resettlement schemes.
There are many ways that you can support Threshold, including purchasing goods via the online shop, fundraising, and volunteering. For further information about this brilliant local charity, please visit https://www.thl.org.uk/
