Neurodiversity Celebration Week - Gillian Baillie

At the age of 32, Gillian Baillie became an apprentice data analyst and she is thriving in a in an environment that is neurodiversity-friendly.

I went to agricultural college and studied for an HND in equine studies – I’ve always loved working with animals – but then I worked at a supermarket for six years, followed by a really mundane office job, where I was mostly scanning documents all day.

Until September last year, when I started my two-year apprenticeship, I was self-employed as a dog walker and dog trainer, as well as doing some graphic design and website design work. But during the pandemic, my work as a dog walker dried up almost overnight. Everyone was home all day and able to walk their own dogs. 

My business never really recovered from the pandemic, so I knew I had to find something new to make myself more employable. I have always been interested in computers and animals – there isn’t a lot of money working with animals, so I thought I’d try the other route.After I applied for the data analyst apprenticeship, I went on holiday and forgot about it, but then I was given an online form to fill in, undertook screening tests and was then selected for an interview. It was the best interview I’ve ever had – I was able to talk in great detail about how I used data analysis when designing websites.

I was offered the job and it has been great. The work is hard and very detail-oriented, but every day, I learn something new. As part of my apprenticeship, I go to college, as well as doing work in portfolio management that relates to the electricity network, such as compliance, assets, working with regulators and overseeing all the inspections.

The other way in which SSE has been really supportive is with my neurodiversity. I have ADHD and autism, but I would probably still be waiting for a proper diagnosis if it wasn’t for SSE. Before I applied for the apprenticeship, I was seeking assessment via my GP, but I felt like I’d hit a brick wall. SSE paid for me to see a psychiatrist privately in January this year and that was amazing – they were able to provide recommendations for my GP, which put me in a much better position.

It is so important to be taken seriously with my ADHD and autism – there is still a lot that needs to be done in the wider world to change people’s attitudes towards these conditions. At work, I’ve never felt as if I was less than anyone else. I have been able to learn the ropes and do my job. I feel valued and SSE has never made me feel as if my ADHD and autism is a problem. It doesn’t hold me back.

There has always been a proactive, understanding approach towards helping me at SSE. I have been asked if anything needs to be done to make the job work for me. If an employee needs any reasonable adjustments made, they are happy to make those adjustments without treating you like a massive burden. It helps everyone be the best that they can be.

Everyone is different, especially when it comes to the autism spectrum, so what might work for one person won’t necessarily work for someone else. But at SSE, nobody is going to say, “Well, that worked for them, so it should work for you too.” This is so important for making sure everyone gets the right support.

For 32 years of my life, I often wondered if I was just weird, but what I have learned is that everybody has their own needs and it is important for employers to do what they can to make somebody’s life easier. That has definitely been the case at SSE.

I find learning new things challenging, but part of the journey for everyone is figuring out what works for you and how best to learn. I'm not a natural, but I have an amazing team to support me on my journey.