Passwerk, a consulting company like no other
For once, let's meet a company that was not born in Brussels but opened a branch there three years ago. Another of Passwerk's particular features is that it is a company with a social dimension that offers people with autism the opportunity to find their place in the labour market.
"Our consultants are not all 'rainmen'," says Roxane Résimont, Account Manager at Passwerk. "When it comes to autism, we're talking about a very, very broad spectrum. Our consultants must be able to carry out their assignment even on site. That's why our coaches and I are on a mission to educate people about autism.
The word 'diversity' is currently very fashionable, including in the field of disability. Some people with autism have tremendous qualities and skills that can be put to good use, especially in the IT sector. We still had to provide these people with a professional framework adapted to their particularities and convince potential clients to trust consultants who were a little out of the ordinary.
FOLLOWING THE DUTCH AND DANISH EXAMPLE
Roxane Résimont explains the origin of this totally original and unique project in Belgium: "The idea is based on existing examples in the Netherlands and Denmark where the skills of people with autism are used in IT, a sector that is generally well suited to people with autism, where there is a real match between them and the job itself. Fourteen years ago, two directors working in the field of autism brought a few people together after attending a conference in Warsaw, but they lacked the skills to develop a sound business plan. That's when they turned to Nico De Cleen and Dirk Rombaut, who became involved in this mission.
IMPRESSIVE PROGRESS
The initiative was an immediate success. "In 2008, Passwerk started with four consultants. We now have 160 employees," says Roxane Résimont. The activity initially focused on software testing but was quickly expanded to include support roles, 'support processes', and tasks related to quality in the IT field. Eventually, in 2017, it included software development, which today employs some thirty developers affected by autism. “Whatever the role, an autism diagnosis is a prerequisite," says Roxane Résimont, "but apart from that, there are no required qualifications for software testers. Anyone with an affinity for IT can come to us and we will train them in software testing."
THE ADVANTAGES OF BRUSSELS
In the meantime, the company, which was founded in Brasschaat, north of Antwerp, has spread throughout Flanders. In 2019, the Brussels branch opened right next to Tour & Taxis. "This was quite a logical step because even before we had an office in Brussels, we already had a lot of clients there," explains Roxane Résimont. "In this context, we have been in contact with hub.brussels and the BRIC with whom we regularly collaborate and exchange information. We even have a consultant there and there was recently talk of organising a webinar in the near future. This good cooperation brought us greater visibility, because we were not yet known on the French-speaking side. We have already received very positive feedback.
LITTLE IMPACT FROM COVID-19
The Covid-19 epidemic has of course disrupted Passwerk's establishment in Brussels, but Roxane Résimont sees positives even here: "Being a consultant and going from one client to another is stressful even for a person without autism, and even more so for people with autism who have difficulties with change and communicating with others. That's why candidates take a series of tests before training. We provide training and coaching sessions for them and offer autism awareness sessions to our potential clients. In a way, this crisis has been quite positive for us: our consultants, who are supposed to visit our client sites for their assignment, now work remotely like all employees, which is very comfortable for most of them.
FUTURE PROSPECTS
Passwerk's development can therefore continue. In Brussels and Flanders of course, but also, and why not, in Wallonia. "It will depend on the opportunities that come our way," comments Roxane Résimont, "but our goal is to enable as many people with an autism spectrum profile as possible to enter the Belgian job market."