Today, the shortlist has been revealed for a new national awards programme celebrating neurodiverse talent and the employers building truly neuroinclusive workplaces across the UK.
LONDON, 10 February 2026: The finalists for the Neurodiverse Business Awards have been announced today, marking a significant moment for a new UK-wide initiative. The programme is dedicated to showcasing neurodiverse talent, and recognising organisations creating environments where different ways of thinking can thrive.
Among those shortlisted is Martin McKay, Founder and CEO of Everway, who has been named a finalist in the Business Leader of the year award category. This award recognises business leaders driving meaningful progress in neuroinclusion across the world of work.
Speaking as a finalist, Martin McKay shared;
"I’m honoured to be named a finalist for the Business Leader award. The Neurodiverse Business Awards are an important signal that neuroinclusion is gaining real ground in the world of work. For me, this has always been personal. From founding Everway to later sharing my own dyslexia diagnosis, I’ve seen how powerful the right support can be. When workplaces are built to support different ways of thinking, people gain confidence, do their best work, and businesses perform better. Recognition like this helps make that progress visible and keeps the momentum going."
An estimated 15-20% of people are neurodivergent. Yet neurodivergent individuals remain significantly underrepresented in employment. Only 56% of working-age neurodivergent people are in full-time work, falling to 31% for autistic people.
For many who are in work, the experience lacks psychological safety. People feel pressure to mask who they are. A lack of visible role models contributes, and limits awareness of the value neurodivergent people bring to the workplace.
The Neurodiverse Business Awards were created to change this. They spotlight exceptional individuals and employers who are doing things differently. The Awards exist to shift perceptions and break down outdated stereotypes. They show that neuroinclusion is not a tick-box exercise, but a driver of innovation, productivity, and performance.
Research shows that neurodivergent employees can be 90-140% more productive than neurotypical peers and make fewer errors in certain roles. Yet just one in three say they feel well supported at work. Three in ten have not disclosed their neurodivergence to their employer, partly due to fears of stigma or assumptions. At a time of acute skills shortages and a national productivity challenge in the UK, this represents a vast pool of untapped potential.
The inaugural shortlist follows an exceptional first year of nominations. More than 400 entries were received from across the UK. The range of individuals and organisations reflects growing momentum. Neuroinclusion is gaining recognition. Not just as the right thing to do, but as a strategic advantage for the workforce.
Kirsty Matthews, CEO of DFN Project SEARCH, official charity partner of the Awards, said;
With the employment gap for neurodivergent people remaining stubbornly wide, these Awards shine a much-needed light on what becomes possible when employers embrace neurodiversity to unlock talent and potential. Those shortlisted represent the very best of what neuroinclusive workplaces can achieve and demonstrate that with the right support and understanding, neurodivergent individuals don't just participate in the workforce but excel.
The Awards celebrate exactly what we work towards every day at DFN Project SEARCH: a UK job market where neurodivergent talent is recognised and valued. Through our supported internship programme, we help young adults with a learning disability, who are autistic, or both, make successful transitions from education into meaningful paid employment, helping them build the skills, confidence and independence that transform lives. These finalists are proof of the progress being made and we're proud to partner with these Awards and to champion a future where everyone can build a positive, independent and fulfilling life through work.
The winners will be revealed on 18 March 2026. The ceremony will take place at the Neurodiverse Business Awards gala in the Grand Hall at the Grand Connaught Rooms in Covent Garden, London. The event will bring together neurodiverse leaders and advocates from across the UK for an evening celebrating business excellence, impact and inclusion.
The award ceremony will be hosted by ITV news anchor Nina Hossain, with an exciting programme featuring special guest speakers and live entertainment. This includes Sir Stephen Timms, Minister of State for Social Security and Disability, and Dan Rhodes, the world's most followed YouTube magician.
Finalists were chosen by an independent judging panel made up of business leaders and neurodiversity advocates from major employers including: Meta, Accenture, the BBC, Lloyds Banking Group, the National Crime Agency, Sport England, the Royal Navy, AECOM, BAE Systems, Virgin Media O2, Microsoft and the NHS.
Beyond the celebration, the Neurodiverse Business Awards serve a serious purpose: helping employers address skills shortages, talent gaps and productivity challenges by better engaging with neurodiverse talent. As the UK seeks to strengthen economic performance and build more resilient, innovative organisations, neuroinclusion offers a solution hiding in plain sight.
Ben Rossi, founder of the Neurodiverse Business Awards, said;
The Neurodiverse Business Awards exist to make visible a talent group that has been overlooked for far too long, and to change the narrative around neuroinclusion. Neurodivergent people bring extraordinary strengths to the workplace, yet many remain underemployed or misunderstood – not because of a lack of ability but because systems and perceptions have failed to keep pace.
We were blown away by the volume and quality of nominations for this first edition of the Awards. The calibre of the finalists is a powerful statement that neuroinclusion is not a ‘nice to have’ – it’s a strategic imperative. These finalists are not only high performers who deserve recognition in their own right, but also vital role models helping to reshape how employers understand talent, productivity and potential. We look forward to celebrating them on 18 March.
About Everway
Everway is a global technology company that creates solutions to make learning, working, and communicating easier for everyone. Everway’s solutions are necessary for some and useful for all, helping students, educators, and organisations achieve more. Trusted by more than 250 million people worldwide, Everway combines innovation with deep expertise to help shape a more neuroinclusive world - one where everyone can understand and be understood.
About the Neurodiverse Business Awards
The Neurodiverse Business Awards (NBAs) shine a spotlight on the strengths of neurodivergent individuals, celebrate organisations that embrace difference, and champion a more inclusive future of work. By showcasing neurodiverse talent and the employers who support them, the NBAs send a powerful message: neuroinclusion is not a box to tick – it’s a strategic asset. One that unlocks untapped potential, fuels innovation and can help supercharge the UK economy.
https://neuroinclusivebusiness.com
About DFN Project SEARCH
DFN Project SEARCH is a national charity serving young adults who have a learning disability or are autistic, or both, to make a positive transition from education into permanent employment. DFN Project SEARCH offers an evidence-based supported internship programme that takes place entirely in the workplace and provides continuous support to young adults aged 16 – 24, with the goal of ensuring a transition to meaningful paid employment for every young adult.
https://neuroinclusivebusiness.com