Employers urged to trust neurodivergent students

Doncaster employers urged to take a leap of faith in neurodivergent students to end skills crisis

BUSINESSES have been urged to take a ‘leap of faith’ and allow neurodivergent students to help relieve the critical skills shortage hitting the economy.

Former student Kieran Ashton, who now works for plastics experts Polypipe, told a conference hosted by specialist provider Harrison College: “Please give people with neurodivergence an opportunity. I think they can drive your business. Diversity can provide you with new knowledge and help your business grow. “Before going to college I never even left the house. Going there allowed me to go outside and to be who I am. It was life-changing. I can now accept myself and no longer feel I have to be someone else.”

Former Harrison College student Ella Leeming, who now works for Doncaster City Council, thanked the businesses attending the conference at the Yorkshire Wildlife Park for supporting the college. She said to others: “Give the students a chance to thrive, to be the people they want to be. Give them a chance to show you what they can do.“It is important to remember that we are human and can do things everyone can with extra support.”

The college was founded seven years ago by Gemma Peebles to provide young people with autism and social, emotional and mental health issues the vital skills they need for work and adulthood. She told around 150 delegates that 1.5m people had been given a SEND label that limited their aspirations. Of the 700,000 people diagnosed with autism only 22 per cent were in employment. It cost £23bn a year in care and lost earnings to support people with autism, £1.5m per person a lifetime. She said: “We need to change the stereotype around SEN, we need to challenge preconceived notions. Neurodivergence brings a distinctive perspective and problem solving approaches that spark new ideas. “Companies that embrace neurodiversity often see improvements in quality and output. By tapping neurodiverse talent employers access skills such as pattern recognition, memory and analytical thinking that can be game-changing.” Gemma said the college already worked with 250 employers and since 2022 had exceeded 10,000 engagements. The college used an employer-led, skills-first model which prepared young people to be part of the workforce. Around 90 per cent of Harrison College students secured employment, apprenticeships or places in further education.

The annual conference, called Changing Labels, Breaking Stereotypes, Changing Lives, this year was designed to bring together educators, employers and industry partners to promote meaningful employment opportunities for neurodivergent young people. It was hosted by current students Dylan Disney, Lexi Tobin, and Jack Severn. Delegates heard a series of speeches, took part in interactive workshops and questioned panels of experts from the private and public sectors.

Government advisor Dr Carly Jones spoke of her life with autism, how she left school with no GCSEs and struggled to find work and wasn’t diagnosed with autism until her two children were. “I started doing volunteer work to give something back,” she said. “Now my absolute passion is to identify talent among autistic people and to make sure diversity has equity and is recognised in senior roles.”

CEO of Doncaster Chamber of Commerce Dan Fell chaired the first panel of experts. He said: “The UK’s labour market is under real pressure. Despite this we are failing to connect hidden talent with hidden opportunities.” Panel member Hannah Larsen, of the British Chamber of Commerce, agreed a leap of faith was required. She said: “There is a fear among employers that they don’t have the capacity to deal with neurodivergence but small differences can make a big difference. Businesses have a part to play in nurturing what this talent looks like.” Fellow panel member Jonathan Townsend, CEO of the King’s Trust, urged employers to be brave and ‘lean into’ the initiative. He added: “Harrison College should be applauded for giving young people a pathway.”

The second panel examined what businesses needed and identified the key traits of work ethic, a positive mindset, willingness to learn and resilience. Dr Michael England, of Skills Builder UK, said Harrison College made education meaningful and adapted it to business needs. “Essential skills are evergreen, technical skills are really short-lived as technology develops,” he said. Lord Matthew Elliott, of the Jobs Foundation, said: “AI can write people’s CVs so character is so important.”

Panel three featured employers including Charlotte Allison, from Holiday Inn, Kelly Brindley, from TCV, Jazz Jones from Polypipe and Michael Jones, of GXO Logistics. Michael said: “The students bring such energy to the business. Working with Harrison College has just been amazing.”

The final panel comprised Harrison College graduates with Kieran and Ella joined by Lucas Platt, Finn O’Rourke and Harvey Rosa. Lucas said he had ‘burned out’ doing his GCSEs which left him unable to talk to people but the college had helped him develop skills, learn how to perform in the work environment and secure a career as a funeral director. Finn said he had developed valuable skills and now worked for logistics company Ceva. Harvey went from being home all the time to gaining employment with Aggregates R Us. Gemma urged employers to commit to an action and engage with the college. She added: “Everything we have discussed exists to create meaningful, life-changing opportunities for young people. “When you invest in a young person – their confidence, their capabilities, their place in the world – the impact reaches far beyond one life. It shapes families, strengthens workplaces and builds a better future for us all.”