Harry Specters' Social Mission: Creating Opportunities

At Harry Specters, we believe that every piece of chocolate should do more than just satisfy a craving—it should make a difference. Founded by Mona and inspired by her autistic son, Ash, our mission is to provide employment and training opportunities for autistic people, empowering them to lead fulfilling lives. Through our dedication to crafting premium chocolates, we aim to be a role model for “great product, great cause” for other businesses and individuals.

The Inspiration Behind Harry Specters

The story of Harry Specters began in 2011 when Mona and her family were on holiday in Scotland. Like many parents of autistic children, Mona and her husband Shaz constantly worried about Ash's future. Originally from Pakistan, they discovered early on that Ash was autistic and knew that the lack of support available for neurodivergent people in Pakistan wouldn't be enough to help Ash thrive.

“The problem is there’s no jobs that are suitable for autistic people,” Mona mentioned during an interview with The Big Issue.  It was while browsing a chocolate shop in Scotland that inspiration struck. Mona, a keen baker and chocolate lover, found the perfect way to combine her passion for creating positive change for autistic people with her love for chocolate.

Ash, Mona, and Shaz - the inspiration behind and founders of Harry Specters

Our Social Mission

Harry Specters aims to offer confidence and hope to young autistic people by providing employment and free training, enabling them to produce great products, such as our award-winning chocolates. By doing so, we aim to inspire other businesses to embrace a model of combining premium products with a meaningful cause.

Our activities to generate social value include:

• Providing employment and work experience opportunities for young autistic people.
• Offering free training to develop new skills.
• Creating an autism-friendly workplace where each individual can thrive.

Since our inception in November 2012, Harry Specters has positively impacted the lives of more than 598 beneficiaries, mostly young autistic individuals. These beneficiaries have contributed to our business in various ways, from making and packaging chocolates to handling back-office tasks, design work, and photography. All of them have gained new skills, increased confidence, and hope for their future.

Achievements (2018-2021) at a Glance:

• Produced over 1,056,859 chocolates, providing 13,162 employment hours for 33 employees and 1,604 work experience hours for 35 young autistic people.
• Generated £123,263 of social value for the UK economy by hiring amazing autistic individuals and helping them secure great jobs and become independent.
• Saved the government £51,734 and gave families £240,156 worth of respite hours while our employees made gorgeous chocolates.
• Paid a 7% premium on every kg of cacao sourced from Barry Callebaut and their Cocoa Horizons Foundation, ensuring fair practices and quality ingredients.

Pages from the 2018-2020 Social Impact leaflet

On average, over the last five years, for every £1 spent at Harry Specters, 69p directly benefited the lives of young autistic people and their families through paid employment, free work experience, and free training opportunities. Our annual social impact report, available on our Social Cause page, details our progress and achievements.

Creating an Autism-Friendly Workplace

One of the key outcomes of our social mission is the creation of an autism-friendly workplace. In such an environment, autistic individuals can contribute to various tasks, creating value for themselves and for Harry Specters. Understanding and accommodating the unique needs of autistic employees is crucial for their success and well-being.

Barriers to Employment for Autistic People: Autistic individuals often face significant barriers to employment, including:

• Lack of Understanding: Many employers lack awareness of autism and the potential of autistic employees.
• Insufficient Accommodations: Workplaces often do not provide the necessary accommodations, such as flexible schedules or sensory-friendly environments.

Harry Specters is committed to breaking down these barriers. As Zoey Nichols, our Operations Executive, shares: "I would get horribly anxious [talking about previous workplaces], but now I go to trade shows and talk with people. It doesn't mean the anxiety has gone away, but here, they say 'fine, let's find a way around this'—it really is a great team."

The Harry Specters team - including Zoey - at the Cambridgeshire County Day meeting the then-Duke and Duchess of Cambridge

Understanding Autism: Evolving Perspectives

Our understanding of autism has changed significantly over the years, and we continue to discover the diverse ways it can present. Autistic women and girls, in particular, have been affected by a lack of understanding, as autism often presents differently in females.

Harry Specters treats each autistic person as an individual, recognizing that "if you've met one autistic person, you've met one autistic person." This personalized approach helps us create a supportive and inclusive environment.

Success Stories: "My son has got his confidence back now since working at Harry's. It was really hard to see him get rejected after each job interview after leaving college. He got top grades too. Harry's gave him 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!"—Mum of an employee

"An amazing opportunity to work and learn to make chocolates from the chocolate machines."—Greg, ex-full-time employee

The Customer's Role: Making a Difference

Every single order at Harry Specters means the world to us. The more orders we receive, the more consistent work we can generate for our employees. By choosing our premium chocolates, customers support our mission of providing meaningful employment and training opportunities for autistic individuals.

Your decision to buy from Harry Specters helps us generate consistent work for our employees, creating a ripple effect of positive change that extends beyond our company and into the broader community. You are an integral part of our mission to create a brighter future for autistic individuals and their families. Together, we can celebrate the joy of great products and the power of a great cause.

Thank you for being a champion of change. Your support enables us to continue our work and make a difference, one delicious chocolate at a time.