Opening Doors: Recruiting and Retaining Neurodivergent Talent

Cost: Free

This in-person event will bring together HR, line managers, and those interested in neurodivergent inclusion in the workplace and will offer practical ways that employers can attract, recruit, and support neurodivergent talent to thrive in the workplace.

Employers across Northern Ireland are operating in a challenging labour market, with historically low unemployment alongside persistently high levels of economic inactivity. To build a more sustainable workforce, there is a growing need to widen access to underrepresented talent pools and adopt more inclusive approaches.

Neurodivergent individuals represent a valuable and often underutilised group, bringing strengths such as problem-solving, creativity, attention to detail, and innovation. However, barriers remain within traditional recruitment practices and workplace environments.

Aligned with BITC NI’s Opening Doors campaign, this session will provide practical guidance and real-world examples to help employers take action towards more inclusive recruitment pathways and workplace practices.

This is an open session and we welcome non-signatories of Opening Doors and non-members of Business in the Community.

What Attendees Will Learn:

• Why inclusive recruitment is critical in Northern Ireland's current labour market and how it supports workforce sustainability.
• How widening access to underrepresented talent pools can help address skills shortages.
• How the Opening Doors campaign supports employers to access untapped talent through meaningful partnerships.
• What neurodivergent individuals want employers to know, based on insights from the neurodivergent community.
• The strengths neurodivergent talent brings, common barriers and misconceptions, and practical ways to address them.
• How neuroinclusive technology can improve productivity, retention, and employee success, supported by real-world case studies

Event Speakers:

• Jo McGinley, Director of Social Value, EY Northern Ireland
• Katie Shearer, Skills & Labour Solutions Executive, Invest NI
• Matthew McArthur, Business Manager, Hays
• Valencia Yeo, Inclusion Manager, Business in the Community
• Megan Currie, Empower Project Lead, SpecialisterneNI
• Russell Coates, Associate Financial Crime Risk Analyst, EY
• John Butler, Workplace Team, Everway

We reserve the right to cancel or amend the timings of these sessions at any point up to the stated start time of the session.

Delegates may cancel their booking at any time by following the link in their confirmation email, but please note the details of the cancellation policy for the specific event in question regarding up to what point booking fees may be refunded. 

Payment for attendance at events is due in advance of the event taking place.

The delegate acknowledges that all course material, programme material or copies thereof are and will remain the property of Business in the Community and are subject to copyright. It is expressly agreed that neither the delegate nor their sponsoring organisation will copy the whole or any part of those materials without the written consent of Business in the Community.