Rory Hutton – work hard and achieve anything

Rory Hutton is rightly proud to be nominated for a Leaders’ List Award, but he’s also happy for all the people who’ve supported him on his journey.

His journey is about his lived experience and his challenges into paid employment, and how he’s “inspiring other people to follow the same pathway and achieve their goal into employment”.

Rory is a young autistic man, and through facing his own challenges into paid employment – he is presently a Barista at Marks & Spencer’s café – he now presents his story at many conferences across the country.

He’s been a guest speaker at a learning disability employment conference; he’s connected with his former school in Warrington, appearing at the school’s year 10 and 11 careers week; he’s delivered a talk to 30 students through a Supported Internship programme; he’s shared his experience of speaking at the school via a local online magazine, Warrington Worldwide; and he has a reporter job for Macintyre Magazine.

He’s an inspiration as well as being passionate about his story and his journey.

Below, Rory tells us a bit more about himself and what his work involves.

Could you tell us a bit more about your lived experience journey and challenges into paid employment as a Barista?

I did a supported internship at Rhode Island café and didn’t feel like I was progressing quickly enough, and then I moved to Brew Town House with Neil, who was my boss there, and really enjoyed working there. I learned how to become a Barista and one of the customers said I make the best Chai Latte too!

I then applied for a job in the café at Debenhams, and because of all my skills. I was successful and worked there until the company closed during the pandemic. I then applied for a barista job at Marks and Spencer’s café and have worked there ever since.

What duties do you perform in your role as a Barista?

I make coffee in the café, I prepare food such as baps and afternoon teas, and I also do table clearance and pot washing. I enjoy meeting and greeting customers and talking to some of the regular customers.

What messages you want to get across when you present/guest speaks at events/conferences?

The main message I try and deliver to autistic people and people with learning disabilities is to believe in yourself, and if you work hard you can achieve anything.

Can you tell us a bit more about your experience through a Supported Internship programme?

It was a good experience as it was helpful. It helped me learn the skills I needed along the way for my job/paid employment.

How do you want to inspire the next generation into paid or voluntary employment opportunities/what tips can you share?

Keep on working hard on functional skills, do tasters to find out what you’re interested in, and find the right people to help with your interests (Neil is my mentor and Customer Service expert, and I support him working with new interns at Warrington Borough Council).

Can you tell us a bit more about your role as a reporter for MacIntyre Magazine?

I have a column called Rory’s Stories and I report on what’s happening in Warrington that is accessible for all and achievable, such as community activities and groups telling everyone what’s great in our town.

I also wrote an article on my session at my former school talking to the year 10 and 11 students on my journey into employment.

As others describe him:

“…Rory is very driven and once he sets a goal for himself he never gives up until it is achieved”.

He also fits exercise into his busy schedule; during the pandemic, he started cycling with his Mum to help with his mental health and physical wellbeing. From it, he set up a cycling social group, meeting once a month to get others active and meet socially across accessible routes across Warrington.

Along with being a Leaders’ List finalist, Rory has recently “connected with various mental health groups across Warrington”, which includes the Warrington Wolves [the rugby league club] Offload project. He spoke to a group of over 20 people about his remarkable journey.