Neurodiversity Index 2026
Understanding the power of different minds and creating environments for everyone to thrive
The 2026 Neurodiversity Index Report is Live!
This years report provides valuable insights into the current state of neurodiversity in the workplace, highlighting areas of progress, challenges, and opportunities for fostering inclusive work environments. In this latest report, discover how some organizations are making strides towards embracing neurodiversity.
Read the 2026 Neurodiversity Index Report
Over the last 4 years, we have worked on the Neurodiversity Index Report in partnership with Do-IT Solutions.
We have uncovered valuable insights into the current state of neurodiversity in the workplace across the UK & Ireland, highlighting areas of progress, challenges, and opportunities for fostering inclusive work environment.
With increasing employer interest and shifting economic and policy contexts, there is now a timely opportunity to evolve the Index into a tool that not only measures inclusion maturity but also guides focused improvements.
For this next year, we’ll be looking to do more of a deep dive into particular sectors, delving into what is hindering or driving progress. The aim remains the same – to support organisations in going beyond intention to impact, with practical insights.
Why is this work important?
The City & Guilds Foundation is committed to helping people, organisations and communities develop the skills they need to thrive. Our purpose is to remove barriers to opportunity and ensure that everyone — including those who face the greatest structural disadvantages — can access meaningful pathways into learning, work and progression.
In recent years we have supported hundreds of people with significant and urgent needs, including prisoners and ex‑offenders, care leavers, refugees and young people at risk. What became increasingly clear through our work with charity partners is that a substantial proportion of those facing multiple disadvantages also have neurodivergent traits, often unidentified or unsupported. These traits can significantly increase the cognitive, emotional and practical load people carry, making it harder to navigate education, employment systems and everyday expectations.
At the same time, we were hearing consistent messages from employers, training providers and award recipients across our networks. Neurodivergence isn’t only present at the margins of society — it is part of the mainstream workforce, and yet the systems that should enable people to thrive are not keeping pace. The 2026 Neurodiversity Index shows that while awareness has risen, the gap between employer confidence and employees’ lived experience has widened, with neurodivergent employees reporting uneven support, slower access to adjustments, lower psychological safety and increased exposure to microaggressions.
As organisations, sectors and communities begin to recognise both the moral and economic imperative of inclusion, the case has never been clearer. Creating environments where neurodivergent people can flourish is not only the right thing to do — it is essential for unlocking talent, improving productivity, and building a fairer, more resilient society. The Foundation remains committed to championing this change and ensuring no one is left behind.
“It has been fascinating to digest the research from CGLI Fellow Professor Amanda Kirby and hear how much neurodiversity is top of the agenda for so many of our network – whether that’s global companies, or local charities. It really cuts across fields and is a classic example where nothing short of a systems-approach will deliver the change we need to see.
At the City & Guilds Foundation we are committed to raising awareness, inspiring and delivering action where there is a need. Ensuring that a neurodiverse workforce is not under-valued, under-supported, or under-looked, is essential not just because it is right, but because it is critical for our collective future.
We must seize the moment to advance the opportunities and outcomes for individuals; only when everyone has a fair chance to succeed will there be genuine, long-term progress in our society.”
2026 Neurodiversity Index report
We are excited to be launching, for the fourth year in a row, the 2026 Neurodiversity Index Report in partnership with Do‑IT Solutions – Understanding the power of different minds and creating environments for everyone to thrive. This year’s report marks another significant step forward in understanding how workplaces can better enable neurodivergent talent, and highlights the widening gap between employer confidence and employees’ lived experience. It explores the evolving landscape of neurodiversity at work, including the effectiveness of support systems, sector‑specific realities, and the ongoing cultural and structural challenges that shape day‑to‑day inclusion.
This follows on from the work we began with the inaugural 2023 report, which aimed to raise awareness and build foundational understanding of neurodiversity in the workplace, and the 2024 and 2025 editions, which deepened insight into progression, experience gaps and emerging trends. The 2026 Index moves this conversation further, showing that while awareness continues to grow, delivery and consistency lag behind, with neurodivergent employees reporting uneven support, longer adjustment delays, lower psychological safety and increased exposure to microaggressions.
%
of neurodivergent employees did not receive consistent, good support when they asked for it
%
of employees experienced long delays of 3+ months when waiting for workplace adjustments
%
of employees with a neurodivergent family member say caring responsibilities impact their work
%
of neurodivergent employees felt well supported from the start of their role
“This is not just an inclusion agenda. It is a productivity strategy, a health imperative, and a test of organisational maturity in a changing workforce. And that is something beyond any policy; it starts with the individual, and employers and industries that understand their civic responsibility.”
Be an advocate and receive a digital credential
We want to help everyone raise awareness of inclusion and diversity in the workplace. We are giving you the opportunity to make a pledge to building equity, claim a digital credential and share with your networks. Fill in the form below with your pledge and we will send you a digital credential. You can find out more about this digital credential on the Accredible website. Additionally you can opt-in to hear more from the City & Guilds Foundation and receive emails around regular updates and advocacy engagements relating to Neurodiversity. Please sign up for our newsletter to stay up to date with latest Foundation news and events. To find out more about how we process your personal data in relation to the digital credential, please see our privacy notice here.
Other resources
In October 2022 we hosted a Neurodiversity Index Lunch and Learn with Professor Amanda Kirby which discusses the Neurodiversity Index and why it is vital to employers and employees alike.
Following our first and inspiring ‘Train the Trainer’ event which championed neurodiversity, wellbeing and inclusion, work began on creating the trailblazing Neurodiversity Index Report.
At the City & Guilds Foundation, we are passionate about enabling each person to achieve their potential. By partnering with Do-IT Solutions on this, we aim to encourage and highlight best practice for enabling everyone to be successful in the workplace. Neuroinclusive workplaces don’t just benefit neurodivergent individuals, they benefit all employees.
Our first Neurodiversity Index Report in 2023 aimed to increase neurodiversity in the workplace and was the first of its kind to set a benchmark for employers in the UK. We also held an event in July 2023 where we explored how to attract and retain neurodiverse talent which featured Professor Amand Kirby, Labcorp, and City & Guilds.
The second Neurodiversity Index Report launched in 2024 aimed at understand what if any improvements and trends were we seeing. We then held a Coffee and Connect with Prof Amanda Kirby, which was an opportunity to help employers and employees understand more about what the 2024 Neurodiversity Index Report would be looking to achieve.
See all our Neurodiversity Index Reports below as well as recordings from our various webinars.
Neurodiversity Index 2025 Report
The third edition of our Neurodiversity Index focused understanding the power of different minds at work.
Neurodiversity Index 2024 Report
The second edition of our Neurodiversity Index reviews the evolving landscape of neurodiversity at work.
Neurodiversity Index 2023 Report
The first edition of our workplace report developed to support neurodivergent employees in the workplace.