auticon and Unicus have recently joined forces to become the largest autistic-majority company in the world, where 81% of employees are autistic.
The two innovative social enterprises and global players in the IT industry have united under the umbrella of auticon GmbH. The deal establishes a global model for an autistic-majority social enterprise, advancing its ESG mission of neurodiversity. The company will operate in 14 countries, including Norway, Sweden, Finland, Netherlands, Poland, Germany, the United Kingdom, North America, Australia, New Zealand, Italy, Switzerland, and France.
auticon Group CEO Kurt Schöffer commented: “Imagine a company where the majority are autistic. Most could never conceive of such a thing, yet we come to work every day. This merger unites two high-profile IT consulting companies behind a unifying purpose – neurodiversity.”
Unicus Founder and CEO Lars Johansson-Kjellerød commented: “By our marriage, we create the world’s largest autistic-majority corporation. With the focus on neurodiversity, we will continue to create unique results for our customers and an increased quality of life for our employees. The joint companies have the same DNA and vision to create a more inclusive world.”
An incredible 465 of auticon GmbH’s 575 employees are on the autism spectrum. This is in stark contrast to the estimate that less than 29% of autistic adults are in any form of meaningful employment, compared to 80% of non-disabled people. (Office for National Statistics, UK, 2022). Neurodiverse candidates often face barriers due to exclusionary recruitment processes (such as a heavy focus on communication competencies), poor autism awareness, and unsupportive employers.
auticon and Unicus are improving the lives of autistic adults through employment. According to internal polling, both companies report significant quality of life improvements for employees, including increased self-esteem, quality of life, income, confidence, and improved well-being. Both companies recognise that many autistic adults possess cognitive strengths that make them particularly well-suited for careers in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM). To learn more, view the latest impact reports for Unicus and auticon.
Companies such as Ultranauts and Specialisterne are also leading the way after recognising the disparity between untapped neurodiverse talent and non-inclusive workplaces. Rajash Anandan, founder of Ultranauts says, “There is an incredible talent pool of adults on the autistic spectrum that has been overlooked for all the wrong reasons,”
To any employer looking for more information, The National Autistic Society has some great tips. As an employer, you can attract more neurodiverse candidates and employees by changing the recruitment and selection process. This is not only for the sake of the candidate; reported benefits to businesses include “productivity gains, quality improvement, boosts in innovative capabilities.”
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