Building a future career through Inclusive Employment
For many graduates, finding that first professional role can be challenging. But for people with autism, learning disabilities or who are neurodivergent, the journey into employment can come with additional barriers that traditional recruitment processes often fail to take into account.
That's why ECL's Inclusive Employment service provides personalised support to help people develop their skills, gain valuable experience and move towards meaningful paid employment. Through specialist job coaching, workplace support, volunteering opportunities and employer engagement, the team helps individuals build confidence and create pathways into work that reflect their strengths and aspirations.
One person benefiting from this support is Evelyn Pepper, a recent University of Suffolk graduate who is building her professional experience while pursuing a career in web development.
Turning qualifications into workplace experience
Evelyn graduated with a degree in Computing, specialising in Web and Mobile App Development. Like many graduates, she discovered that having qualifications alone wasn't always enough to secure employment in a competitive job market.
After seeing ECL's Inclusive Employment service on social media, Evelyn reached out for support.
Alongside volunteering at her local library and the Combined Military Services Museum in Maldon, she recently began volunteering with ECL's Marketing and Communications team, where she is gaining hands-on experience in a professional office environment and putting her digital skills into practice.
For Evelyn, who is autistic and also has dyslexia and anxiety, gaining experience in a corporate setting has been an important step towards building confidence and preparing for paid employment.
"I've only really worked in pubs or retail environments before, so I've not had any office experience. This opportunity has been really valuable to me. It's also a bonus that I can use some of what I learnt at university in the role too."
Volunteering one day a week with ECL has given Evelyn the chance to experience a workplace relevant to her future career goals while developing transferable skills, professional confidence and a stronger CV.
Building confidence through inclusive support
ECL's Inclusive Employment service recognises that the journey into work looks different for everyone.
While many people move directly from education into employment, traditional recruitment processes can create barriers for neurodivergent candidates whose abilities are not always reflected through application forms, psychometric tests or conventional interviews.
Evelyn has experienced these challenges first hand.
"As someone with autism, dyslexia and anxiety, I think companies should consider their job application processes more carefully. Traditional application forms and interviews don't suit everyone.
I find application forms, aptitude tests and questionnaires really difficult because they make me anxious. Sometimes I've been put off applying for jobs even though I'm more than capable of doing the role itself."
This is where specialist support can make a significant difference.
Working closely with Evelyn, ECL Job Coach Clare Francis helps her navigate applications, identify suitable opportunities and showcase her strengths in a way that feels manageable and accessible.
Evelyn says: "Clare helps me with my applications so that I don't become overwhelmed. She's helped me present my skills and experience in the best way possible."
The support doesn't stop at applications. ECL's Inclusive Employment team works with individuals to create personalised employment plans, source volunteering and work experience opportunities, build confidence and connect with employers who are willing to make reasonable adjustments throughout the recruitment process.
I think companies should consider their application processes more carefully as traditional methods don't suit everyone.
Evelyn Pepper
Creating pathways, not barriers
Evelyn's volunteering placement at ECL was arranged through collaboration between ECL Inclusive Employment consultants Caroline Geiss, Clare Francis and Jenny Price, who continue to support her as she develops experience and explores paid employment opportunities.
ECL Head of Marketing and Communications Victoria Milne has already seen the positive impact Evelyn is making within the team:
"Having Evelyn join the team in a volunteer role has been fantastic. It's only her fourth week, but she's already become part of the team and is doing a brilliant job. She's proved herself to be a real asset and has settled in incredibly well."
For Clare, Evelyn's experience highlights a wider issue affecting many neurodivergent jobseekers:
"Too often, talented candidates are overlooked because recruitment processes aren't designed to accommodate different ways of thinking and communicating. Many employers don't realise they're losing out on skilled and capable people because traditional application and interview methods create unnecessary barriers. That's why we work closely with employers to identify reasonable adjustments that help candidates demonstrate their abilities.
Sometimes that might involve a work trial instead of a formal interview or adapting the recruitment process to allow someone to showcase their skills in a way that works better for them."
Evelyn joining our team as a volunteer has been fantastic... she's already part of the team and is doing a brilliant job.
Victoria Milne, Head of Marketing and Communications, ECL
Looking ahead
Ultimately, Evelyn hopes to establish herself as a freelance website and app developer and one day run her own business.
For now, she is continuing to build her experience, confidence and professional network while searching for opportunities that will help her take the next step into paid employment.
Her journey demonstrates the value of tailored employment support and highlights why alternative routes into work are so important. By helping individuals gain experience, develop employability skills and overcome barriers within traditional recruitment processes, ECL's Inclusive Employment service is ensuring that talented people like Evelyn have the opportunity to fulfil their potential and build successful careers.