City AM: Embracing neurodiversity will get the best out of the City’s workforce

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Renowned autism advocate and scientist Temple Grandin said that “the world needs different kinds of minds to work together”. Diversity of thought is a key ingredient of business success, and the City of London has always been a place where new ideas have thrived.

In this new era of uncertainty, these qualities are, perhaps, more important than ever before – with the businesses that are able to take a different perspective being the ones that prosper in an ever-changing world. That is why we need to ensure we are unlocking the skills of everyone in society –including the 15 per cent of people in the UK who are neurodivergent.

A case study by JP Morgan Chase found that professionals in its Autism at Work initiative were up to 140 per cent more productive than neurotypical employees. And further research suggests teams with neurodivergent professionals can be 30 per cent more productive than those without them.

It is encouraging to see that the government is also taking steps to support neurodiverse people at work, with a panel comprised of leading academics being set up to advise the government on improving job chances for neurodiverse people.

It is clear that embracing neurodivergence is not only the right thing to do for people, it is the right thing to do for business. A truly diverse workforce will give the City and its businesses the edge to compete in our changing world.