Autism and finding work
Written on 18th Oct 2025 by Alex Lowery
I’ve recently started a new job at Travis Perkins, the builders’ merchant. I completed a 12-week placement there through Project Search and was offered a job at the end of my rotation. Below, you can read about the different things I’ve learned at Travis Perkins.
At first, I struggled to find where different stock items were in Travis Perkins, but with practice I became more comfortable with the store’s layout. The manager taught me how to record hazards and near misses on the computer, which I found both interesting and useful. I also helped organize stock from large crates, ticking items off a checklist as I went. One small but satisfying task I enjoyed was arranging paint cans so their handles faced forward.
In addition to organizing stock, I was responsible for sorting paperwork by month, which helped improve my attention to detail.
After a few months, I felt more confident in my role. I learned where most of the stock items went and could often put things away independently. While I still sometimes needed support when customers asked for unfamiliar items, I was definitely improving.
My job coach continued to teach me about different products and their uses. I started taking notes and challenging myself to find items on my own. My job coach also encouraged me to write down unfamiliar product names when customers asked about them so I could learn them for next time. This wasn’t always easy—especially when the names were long—but it really helped me improve.
Over time, I also got better at spotting hazards around the store. While I’d learned about this during Project Search classes, applying it in a real work environment took practice. Eventually, I began noticing things like loose screws or misplaced items more often. I still had room to grow, but I was proud of the progress I made.
This hands-on experience at Travis Perkins, supported by my job coach, helped me grow more confident, skilled, and ready for the next step—being offered a job.
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