Supporting neurodiverse young adults to self-employment
Self-employment is a career path that strongly fits the strengths of neurodiverse young adults. However, many of these young adults struggle to transition into self-employment after finishing their education due to a lack of awareness, financial stability, support and confidence to do this. As a result, many neurodiverse young adults transition into conventional employment, only to face negative experiences that fail to accommodate their needs.
Educational providers are not typically tailored to setting up young adults for self-employment. Career advice is strongly focused on traditional employment pathways. Four practitioners and two Durham researchers are now working on developing solutions that aim to support these neurodiverse young adults early in their careers if they want to build sustainable careers as entrepreneurs.
Durham Researchers
Entrepreneurs in Residence
Nicola Jayne Little
CEO, Founder and Chief Activator at Celebrate Difference a Social Enterprise dedicated to creating opportunities for ADHDers to thrive. Ex-primary school teacher and Founder of 9 businesses in 15 years, Nicola was diagnosed ADHD/Dyspraxic at the age of 46 and launched Celebrate Difference to support others like herself. With two thirds of the team either diagnosed or identify as Neurodivergent, no two days are ever the same!
https://www.linkedin.com/in/nicolajaynelittle/
Graham Martin
Youth Pathways Lead at Celebrate Difference and experienced SEND Teacher, Graham heads up all the teaching and learning opportunities for our local community working with social enterprises, charities and schools to support the programme of diverse opportunities for young people. He also heads up our own wellbeing programme for all staff under 25 years old!
https://www.linkedin.com/in/graham-martin-2b6702246/
Holly Knight
Marketing Co-ordinator and Youth Programme Lead at Celebrate Difference. Since joining the organisation, Holly has successfully completed her Marketing Apprenticeship and has written and is leading the Learn, Grow, Thrive programme specifically aimed at supporting young adults to thrive in education and the workplace.
https://www.linkedin.com/in/holly-knight/
Jase Smith FCMI, PGCE, CExIoSCM, TechIOSH
Jase has over 35 years experience within the military and has over 20 years’ experience of designing and delivering training in leadership, management, mental health, wellbeing and resilience. After resigning from the Army to support organisations during the COVID pandemic he established and grew a successful training and consultancy business focused on improving psychological health and safety. He has spent the last 10 years’ delivering mental health related training to managers and employees in the workplace across many different industry sectors worldwide. This has included large government departments, prisons, the third sector, NHS trusts, schools, the construction, automotive and rail industries as well as private enterprises. Jase is driven to promote a mentally healthy workplace culture for everyone and his experience as a leader allows him to deliver training whilst fully understanding the challenges leaders and managers face in changing workplace culture. Combining his knowledge of mental health, wellbeing and leadership with his entrepreneurial spirit he co-founded Mind Your Business which supports improving the mental health of entrepreneurs and business owners alongside delivering executive education.
https://www.linkedin.com/in/jase-smith-zero78training/
James Eves
James speaks 3 languages, has an MBA and brings 20+ years of international experience across 5 countries. He has started multiple businesses, supported other entrepreneurs, and been in the corporate world across the real estate, construction, manufacturing and training sectors. James a.k.a The Strengths Guy – of Work Pirates and Inspiration North CIC – is a Gallup® certified strengths coach with a wealth of coaching experience; all helping people to uncover their strengths and to use them to best effect. He has worked with a wide range of people from parents and their children, to business owners, to those with ADHD / Autism, to senior leaders, and teams within SMEs and large corporations.