A leading British superbike championship team will be visiting students with autism for an exclusive mechanics workshop next week.

Members of OMG Racing will showcase one of their Suzuki racing bikes to the National Autistic Society's Anderson School on Luxborough Lane, Chigwell on Thursday, June 13.

Alongside providing the best tips and advice on motorcycles, the team will also donate a tool kit worth several thousand pounds to help students hone their skills.

Alan Gardner, from OMG Racing, said: “We’re very pleased to continue to support the inspiring work carried out by the National Autistic Society’s Anderson School, and to help their students to enjoy a hands-on practical work-based day where they can learn more about how our machines work and the skills needed to maintain them.

“Increasing accessibility to the workplace and to our sport is high on our agenda as a team, and when you experience the thrill of the British Superbike series.

“At OMG we are one big family, with our riders, mechanics and fans. We’re delighted to welcome students from the National Autistic Society’s Anderson School as part of that family.”

It is hoped pupils will be encouraged to pursue a career within mechanics, with around 16% of autistic adults are estimated to be in full-time paid employment.

OMG Racing have also arranged for a group of the school’s students to attend the British Championship event at Brands Hatch on Friday, June 14.

The youngsters will be able to watch the teams practice for the race, meet the riders and mechanics, visit the team’s garage the race control tower.

Gary Simm, Principal of the National Autistic Society's Anderson School, said: "This is a fantastic opportunity for our students to get a taste for what a career in mechanics could be like.

“We're grateful to OMG Racing and Alan Gardner for making it happen – and to all the other teams and individuals who have donated equipment to us in the past two years. Their generosity is incredible - giving without any expectation of anything in return.

"We have high ambitions for all our students. We are trying to find as many opportunities as possible for them to explore future career choices and gain experience in a safe and known environment. Creating links with industry is central to this.

"It's shocking that so few autistic people are in employment. At our school, we want to be part of the solution and I’m delighted we have brilliant staff like our Faculty Leader David, who make this happen."

David Howard, the school’s faculty leader, was a motorcycle racer in the 1980s and is still involved as a technical official at British and World Championship level racing.

When the teams he works with heard about his job at the school, they offered to help the school in any way they could.

Find out more about autism and the National Autistic Society’s Anderson School: www.autism.org.uk/AndersonSchool