A Hucknall young man with autism has embarked on an engineering career thanks to a local business and support from Nottinghamshire County Council.

Scott Brown, 19, has been working for Miric Engineering Ltd, which produces hydraulic parts for earthmoving equipment, cranes, fork lift trucks and other uses, for the last 10 months.

He completed his college welding course last July and was looking for an apprentice position when his family found out about the Council’s i-Work service, which finds employment opportunities for adults with learning disabilities, autism and Asperger’s Syndrome and gives ongoing support.

His full-time engineering role in Miric’s production team involves monitoring and running machines which produce hydraulic fittings, using a forklift vehicle and assisting in its stores.

Scott said: “This role has given me a greater sense of importance and has improved my self-esteem. I find the work really engaging and I like the detailed work involving running two computer systems.

“I spent two years when I was at college trying to get an apprenticeship and I’m really grateful this company has given me a chance and is willing to invest in me.

“I love the people here and I can now afford a car which helps with my independence.”

David Yates, managing director of Miric, said: “I know how tough it can be for young people to get a job and unfortunately there are also a lot of prejudices about employing people like Scott.

“I’m delighted to invest in Scott as he is really hard working, thorough and has a great eye for detail, which means he spots production errors quickly.

“Although he sometimes needs a little more support than other workers, he’s never late, and is very respectful and well-liked by his colleagues.

“The support we have received from the Council is great and his support worker Joe is at the end of a phone if we have any problems and works closely with Scott if he struggles to grasp a task.”

Scott’s mum Karen Brown said: “This has been a whole family effort to make sure Scott is mentally ready for the world of work and we are so immensely proud of him.

“He’s truly broken down barriers and preconceived perceptions about people with autism and his job has really boosted his self-esteem.

“He often says he is proud to be supporting the British economy with his job. As his mother, I’m very grateful that Miric has seen his potential and has invested so much time and money into his training.”

The Council has so far supported 353 adults with a learning disability, autism or Asperger’s Syndrome into work and vocation-based training since the i-Work scheme was launched in 2008.

It is looking for other organisations in the county that can offer full or part-time paid work for adults with learning disabilities, Autism or Asperger’s Syndrome.

It already works with a range of employers across the county including small businesses, Derbyshire Hotel, Boots, NHS Argos, Next, M&S, Sainsbury’s and Tesco.

Councillor Stuart Wallace, Chair of Nottinghamshire County Council’s Adult Social Care and Public Health Committee, said: “Young people with additional needs find it more difficult to secure a job after leaving college and our i-Work project is designed to identify opportunities for them and give support to both the employee and their employer.

“There are many advantages to employing people with additional needs as research shows they are more likely to stay in one job for longer and they are often very reliable and punctual as Scott proves.”

Employers wanting to find out more should contact the Council on 0115 963 2638 or visit www.nottinghamshire.gov.uk/jobs-and-working

Leymar Healthcare provide Homecare Services in Ashfield and 24 Hour Live in Care in the UK to vulnerable adults in their community. Please contact our office on 01623 360 193 or email us at info@ley