Support network launched at innovation centre for neurodiverse business owners
BUSINESS NEURODIVERSITY: Anna Bravington is the local Innovation Director for Oxford Innovation Space, which runs Fareham Innovation Centre on behalf of building owner Fareham Borough Council. The centre is occupied by 57 technology-led companies, with a support club for neurodiverse business owners to become a regular fixture.
A support club for neurodiverse business owners is to become a regular fixture at Fareham Innovation Centre following the inaugural meeting of the Neurodiversity Business Club (ND Business Club).
Following positive feedback, club members will gather on a monthly basis, with the next get-together scheduled from 1pm to 2pm on Tuesday, 14 May, at the centre’s Bridge conference suite. Anna Bravington is the local Innovation Director for Oxford Innovation Space, which runs Fareham Innovation Centre on behalf of building owner Fareham Borough Council.
Co-ordinating the initiative, Anna said: “The first session here at the centre had a good turnout, with 10 business owners and a lot of solidarity stories shared.
“One entrepreneur turned up who didn’t know he was neurodivergent and thought he was turning up for a different meeting. Hearing the stories, he diagnosed himself in the room after self-realisation.
“There was also a similar story told three times by other participants, about how they can join the dots between a lot of things in business because they think differently.
“One participant spoke candidly of how she couldn’t understand how other people couldn’t see the bigger picture in the workplace, with all of these dots connected, and in work she’d get super frustrated and dismissed in conversations quite regularly.
“A second common theme in our discussions related to prejudice in the workplace – as soon as they mentioned they were neurodivergent, they stopped getting invited to meetings and people didn’t involve them in projects.
“Sometimes they kept it to themselves because it was detrimental to their job; colleagues regarded neurodiversity as negative rather than seeing all the skills they could bring to the table.
“They have gone on to become entrepreneurs, setting up business on their own instead because they struggled at work – people didn’t understand them.”
Anna said: “ND Business Club is our brand-new community for neurodiverse business founders, owners, entrepreneurs and people aspiring to launch a company – they may have felt stigmatised and didn’t quite ‘fit in’.
“It’s all about supporting each other, sharing advice without judgement and finding ways to help our respective businesses develop.
“ND Business Club is more than just an event; it’s a community. Together, we’ll be exploring the strengths of our neurodiversity, tackle the challenges head-on and celebrate every milestone on the road to success.”
The club covers:
• Networking – meeting others who get what it’s like to be in business and neurodiverse • Support – a place to talk about the ups and downs of running a business • Advice – tips and experiences from people who’ve been there • Growth – ideas to help businesses succeed
Anna explained that anyone wanting to join in, but isn’t able to attend Fareham Innovation Centre, would be able to benefit from meetings online and through a dedicated LinkedIn group being set up.
She emphasised that participants don’t have to be formally diagnosed to take part, so long as they are running businesses or looking to start one up.
With 57 technology-led companies on site, Fareham Innovation Centre provides serviced office space, light engineering workshops, meeting rooms and business support.
Stephen Brownlie, Centre Director, said: “According to reports, one in seven of us in the UK is neurodivergent and, thankfully, there is far better understanding in workplaces about people who think and act differently.
“Starting up a business, then running it and growing it, is a challenge for many entrepreneurs and business owners – ND Business Club provides a supportive network where differences are encouraged and celebrated. “In research by Birkbeck, University of London, neurodivergent employees reported remarkable abilities and work strengths: over 80% reported hyperfocus, 78% creativity, 75% innovative thinking, 71% detail processing and 64% people being authentic at work.
“By the same token, these ‘superpowers’ are what neurodivergent entrepreneurs, company directors and aspiring business owners benefit from.
“We look forward to playing a part in building a thriving ND community of business owners here at Fareham Innovation Centre.”
