Ely-based multiple-award-winning deluxe chocolate business, Harry Specters, has a mission to offer confidence and hope to young people with autism by providing employment and free training. It has already provided training and work experience to 183 autistic people, enabling them to produce great products and in doing so, to be a role model for other ‘great product, great cause’ businesses.
Founder Mona Shah was a corporate governance advisor with a love of chocolate, an autistic son and the mindset to make a difference. Whilst undertaking a chocolate making course, Mona had an epiphany: making and packaging bespoke quality chocolate involves a series of very routine tasks; perfect for some individuals on the autistic spectrum.
Harry Specters has now grown to employ 4 full-time and 5 part-time employees (6 of whom are on the autistic spectrum). Enrolment on the Cambridge Social Ventures (CSV) programme in January 2017 and a loan from Bury St Edmunds-based responsible finance provider, Foundation East, helped Harry Specters’ team to develop its business plan – and unlock investment support totalling £260,000 from funders including PwC, SSE, UnLtd and ClearlySo to develop its growth plan.
