Young Maidonian celebrated for neurodivergent-focused entrepreneurialism

A Maidenhead man has been celebrated in the Young Entrepreneur Award 2024 for his global workshops promoting the inclusion of people with ADHD, autism and other neurodivergence.

Charlie Ferriman, 20, co-founded of Neurodiversity Global Workshops with his father during the March 2020 COVID-19 lockdown.

Charlie is an advocate and campaigner for people who live with neurodivergence such as ADHD, dyslexia, autism, and dyspraxia.

He has personally navigated the challenges of being neurodivergent – and witnessed the ‘sometimes very difficult’ effects that multiple co-occurring conditions had on his younger brother.

Charlie’s father and co-founder Richard is also neurodivergent.

In a world that often misunderstands those who think differently, their mission was to create environments that embrace and empower neurodiverse individuals.

In 2020, Charlie was a16-year-old student facing the abrupt cancellation of exams and a disrupted routine.

This triggered ‘a mental and physical burnout’ as he unmasked ‘years of hidden neurodivergent traits.’

Meanwhile, Richard, a senior executive at a large US-based tech firm, was navigating the demands of a high-pressure role while coming to terms with his own neurodivergence.

Together, they channelled their experiences into creating a business that sought to address the gaps in support for neurodiverse individuals in society.

Neurodiversity Global Workshops grew out of realising that societal norms – especially in the workplace and educational settings – were not designed for neurodiverse people.

Traditional working and learning environments ‘often fail to provide the psychological safety required for neurodivergent individuals to thrive.’

It became ‘all too clear’ that even the smallest adjustments in these environments could unlock their strengths, ‘rather than continually focusing on their challenges.’

Today, Neurodiversity Global Workshops partners with clients around the world, training thousands of people on how to create safe spaces in all areas of society.

This covers workplaces and education settings, as well as sports teams, retail outlets, call centres, the NHS and more.

Clients include Virgin Media O2, the NHS, Kyndryl, Vinci Facilities, Volkswagen, Atlas Hotel Group, Refeyn, and SPINC Charity.

As a result of this work, Charlie has been awarded the Epic Futures Young Entrepreneur Award 2024.

He said: “Winning this award is not just a personal achievement, it’s a victory for the neurodiverse community.

“We’re proving that neurodivergent individuals can lead, inspire, and drive change.

“I’m incredibly proud of the work we’re doing at Neurodiversity Workshops, and this recognition only strengthens our resolve to keep pushing forward.”

For more information, visit www.neurodiversityworkshops.co.uk