Mind Matters

29/07/2026

The newly published Neurodivergent Entrepreneurship in the UK (2026) report is one of the most comprehensive pieces of research we’ve seen on the experiences, barriers and opportunities facing neurodivergent founders - and it’s a landmark moment for the UK’s enterprise landscape.

Drawing on insights from over 600 , the report makes one thing abundantly clear: the barriers we face are not about capability or ambition - they are about systems that were never designed with us in mind.

Some of the findings are striking:

76% of neurodivergent founders start a business to work in a way that genuinely suits them
65% say confidence and self‑belief were major early barriers
61% have avoided starting or scaling a business due to systemic obstacles
79% experience workload management or burnout challenges
Only 7% feel consistently understood by the businesses they trade with

I was pleased to be interviewed as part of this research, adding my perspective as an autistic entrepreneur, trainer and author. It’s encouraging to see lived experience meaningfully represented - not as an afterthought, but as a core part of the evidence base.

What I welcome most is the shift in focus. This report doesn’t ask neurodivergent founders to “fit better” into existing structures. Instead, it calls for better-designed systems across business support, finance, procurement, Access to Work, and digital tools — systems that recognise different ways of thinking, processing and communicating.

Key recommendations include:

Designing neurodivergent‑aware business support as standard
Reforming Access to Work for self‑employed founders
Reducing administrative complexity across all business-facing systems
Creating accessible finance pathways
Investing in neurodivergent‑led peer communities
Recognising AI and digital tools as modern reasonable adjustments
Embedding neurodivergent-friendly procurement standards
Establishing a national evidence programme to track progress

For those of us working in neurodiversity, mental health, and inclusive enterprise, this report is both validating and energising. It captures what so many founders have been saying for years - and it provides a clear, practical roadmap for change.

If the UK is serious about unlocking entrepreneurial potential, then designing systems that work for neurodivergent thinkers isn’t a “nice to have”. It’s an economic imperative.

Read the full report: Neurodivergent Entrepreneurship in the UK – June 2026 https://lilaccentre.com/neurodiversity-and-entrepreneurship

28/07/2026

Our spring and summer 2026 training dates are open, and we’re excited to welcome new delegates into our supportive, strengths‑based learning spaces, offering organisations a comprehensive range of courses to strengthen wellbeing, inclusion and psychological safety.

From mental health awareness to neurodiversity and su***de prevention, our evidence‑informed, lived‑experience‑led training supports teams to feel confident, capable and connected.

View available dates and secure your places:

🔗 https://mindmatterstraining.co.uk/courses/training-calendar-march-to-july-2026/

Let’s create workplaces where people feel valued, supported, were everyone can thrive.

***dePrevention

Mind Matters – Mental Health Training

28/07/2026

I half‑understood what my senior colleague meant at the time. My hyper‑visual brain took “grow a thicker skin” literally, conjuring images of skin tissue hardening. Eventually I realised she meant I needed to toughen up – stop crying, gain control, and be less affected. But in that moment, none of that was possible. https://mindmatterstraining.co.uk/youll-need-to-grow-a-thicker-skin-by-jane-mcneice/

“You’ll need to grow a thicker skin!” I half‑understood what my senior colleague meant at the time. My hyper‑visual brain took “grow a thicker skin” literally, conjuring images of skin tissue hardening. Eventually I realised she meant I needed to toughen up – stop crying, gain contro...

27/07/2026

Delegates who have attended our recent Mind Matters Training sessions may recall that I’ve been referencing an important new publication on the widening health inequalities within mental health across the UK. That report has now been formally released - and its findings deserve national attention.

The Mental Health Foundation’s latest report reveals a stark and growing divide in how different communities experience, access, and benefit from mental health support. It highlights that people facing socioeconomic disadvantage, discrimination, and systemic barriers are disproportionately affected by poor mental health outcomes, and that these inequalities are deepening rather than improving.

This widening gap is not simply a matter of service provision. The report shows how structural factors - including poverty, insecure housing, discrimination, and unequal access to early support - are shaping people’s mental health long before they reach crisis point. It calls for a coordinated, whole‑system response that addresses the root causes of inequality, not just the symptoms.

For those working in mental health, wellbeing, HR, education, or community roles, the report offers valuable insights into the challenges people are facing and the changes needed to create fairer, more supportive environments.

At Mind Matters Training we remain committed to delivering training that not only builds confidence and understanding, but also supports organisations to recognise and respond to inequality in meaningful, practical ways. This report reinforces why that work matters and why creating psychologically safe, inclusive spaces is more important than ever.

Read the full report here https://www.mentalhealth.org.uk/explore-mental-health/foundation-reports

27/07/2026

Why the UK Needs a National Public Health Campaign on Su***de Stigma - And How You Can Help https://mindmatterstraining.co.uk/why-the-uk-needs-a-national-public-health-campaign-on-su***de-stigma-and-how-you-can-help/ ***dePrevention ***de

Su***de remains the biggest killer of young people in the UK, and rates continue to rise across all age groups. Yet between 2012 and 2022, 73% of people who died by su***de were not in contact with mental health services. One of the most powerful reasons people don’t seek help is stigma – the fe...

26/07/2026

In today’s fast-paced working environments, competing priorities and ongoing deadlines can make it difficult to maintain focus and clarity. Taking short, intentional pauses may feel counterproductive, yet it is often what restores balance and strengthens resilience at work. https://mindmatterstraining.co.uk/why-resilience-in-the-workplace-matters/

In today’s fast-paced working environments, competing priorities and ongoing deadlines can make it difficult to maintain focus and clarity. Taking short, intentional pauses may feel counterproductive, yet it is often what restores balance and strengthens resilience at work. Research suggests that ...

23/07/2026

Autistic strengths aren’t “exceptions” - they’re powerful, reliable ways of thinking that the world needs more of. From deep focus and pattern recognition to creativity, honesty, and unique problem‑solving, autistic minds bring value that too often goes unseen.

That’s exactly why Jane McNeice wrote ‘Strength Not Deficit: BECAUSE I’m Autistic’ to shift the narrative from what autistic people lack to what we offer. It’s time to stop forcing autistic individuals to fit into narrow expectations and start recognising the brilliance already there.

If you’re ready to challenge ableism and explore a strengths‑based perspective on autism - whether you’re autistic yourself, a parent, an educator, or an employer - you can learn more about the book on my website: www.umbrellapicker.co.uk

Let’s build a world where neurodiversity isn’t just accepted, but celebrated.

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23/07/2026

Autistic communication isn’t broken. It’s simply built for a world that rarely pauses long enough to listen.

Autistic people communicate with clarity, honesty, precision, and intention. Many speak through direct language, pattern-based thinking, deep focus, or non‑verbal expression. None of these are flaws. They’re simply different communication styles - ones that thrive in environments where people take the time to understand them.

The problem isn’t autistic communication.
The problem is a society that:

• rushes conversations instead of valuing thoughtful pauses
• prioritises small talk over meaningful clarity
• expects everyone to communicate the same way
• labels difference as deficiency

When autistic communication is understood, something beautiful happens:

• conversations become more honest
• relationships become more grounded
• misunderstandings shrink
• autistic people feel seen rather than scrutinised

Autistic communication is not a glitch in the system. It’s a different operating language - one that works brilliantly when others are willing to meet it halfway.

If the world slowed down, listened more carefully, and valued diverse communication styles, autistic people wouldn’t be told to “fix” how they speak. They’d be recognised for the depth, sincerity, and insight they bring.

Autistic communication isn’t broken.
The world just needs to learn how to listen.

22/07/2026

Despite the progress we’ve made in awareness and understanding of autism, some ideas seem astonishingly resistant to change - the irony of that is not lost on me... https://mindmatterstraining.co.uk/are-we-still-using-functioning-labels-to-describe-autistic-people/