Empowering Change: Autistic Employees at Harry Specters

Every Harry Specters box begins in our Ely factory, where chocolates are made, checked, de-moulded, packed and prepared by people with different roles and strengths. The finished chocolate matters first. The workplace behind it matters too.

Harry Specters was founded to create meaningful opportunities for autistic people through a successful chocolate business. Paid employment, work experience and training are part of how our chocolates are produced and how our team develops. You can learn more about our social impact.

Here are three autistic members of our team, the work they do and the strengths they bring to Harry Specters.

Ash: The Original Inspiration

Ash was the inspiration behind Harry Specters and gave the company its name when he was 14. He still works in the factory today, supporting production and packaging.

Ash is a seriously hard worker who thrives on the rhythm of a busy factory. When chocolates are ready to be packed, he places them into their boxes at a pace the rest of us struggle to match.

He is also highly sociable and loves having visitors in the factory. Whether it is a customer, the postman or the plumber, Ash is usually ready with a hello and a conversation. His enthusiasm brings a particular energy to the workplace.

Zoey: My Role at Harry Specters

I joined Harry Specters in 2021 while I was still waiting for my autism diagnosis. I initially stepped into an operations role, helping with the practical work that keeps the business moving. I have written more about this in my diagnosis story.

These days, customer service is at the centre of my work, alongside marketing, sales, social media and managing different parts of the website. That includes product uploads, page updates and the small behind-the-scenes details customers may never see, but which still need to be right.

My role shows that progression does not always follow a fixed route. Sometimes a position develops around the work someone does well, the responsibilities they can take on and the areas where they want to grow.

Joseph: Quality in the Details

Joseph first joined Harry Specters for work experience in 2019 and later became a full-time member of the team. His main responsibility is de-moulding chocolates and checking them before they move on to packing.

As Joseph explains:

“I really appreciate the rest of the team. They make the chocolates and I take them out of the moulds.”

It is a simple description, but it captures how work in the factory fits together. Production, de-moulding, checking, packing and dispatch all depend on one another. Joseph’s role is a necessary part of making our hand-crafted chocolates.

What Meaningful Work Can Change

Parents and carers have told us that the difference made by training and paid employment is not only financial. It can affect confidence, friendships and how someone sees their own abilities.

One parent told us:

“Harry’s gave my son a chance and he fitted into the workplace and made new friends. He now has a new sense of self-worth and believes in himself again. I am very proud.”

Another described the moment their son was paid:

“I get quite emotional thinking about the look on my son’s face when he showed me the cheque you gave him for his work. It was not about the money, but the confidence and self-worth he was feeling.”

A payslip represents more than money. It shows that somebody’s time, effort and contribution have been recognised.

Not every autistic person wants the same work or needs the same support. Meaningful inclusion begins with understanding the individual rather than relying on assumptions about autism.

At Harry Specters, this may involve clear tasks, familiar routines, practical support, direct communication and opportunities that develop over time. It also means maintaining the same expectations around food safety, reliability and chocolate quality. Support and high standards can exist together. We have shared more in our guide to an autism-friendly workplace.

Chocolate as a Vehicle for Change

Harry Specters exists to produce chocolate people are pleased to choose and proud to give. It also shows what can happen when autistic people are offered useful work, fair recognition and an environment in which they can contribute.

Every order creates real work in the factory. Behind each finished box are people developing skills, taking responsibility, building relationships and playing a genuine part in the business.

That is what we mean when we describe chocolate as our vehicle for change. The impact is not added to the finished product. It is present in the work happening every day.