"Diversity is a strength; we want to make being different, normal."
World Autistic Pride Day got us thinking about how we view neurodiversity within our very own Cyber Divison here at Inzpire.
It’s estimated that around 15% of the UK population is neurodiverse, and only 29% of autistic people are in any form of employment. With a population of approximately 66.97 million people in the UK (2022), that equals 10 million neurodiverse individuals - with only 2.9 million of those in full-time employment, leaving 7.1 million neurodiverse people unemployed.
But what is being neurodiverse? This is often associated with autism, but also refers to people with ADHD, dyslexia, dyspraxia, Tourette’s syndrome, or many other neurological conditions.
World Autisic Pride Day made us start to think within Cyber, as it is particularly relevant within our industry. As the UK Cyber Security Council highlighted last year, the cyber security industry has a massive skills gap, and the neurodiverse is an un-tapped recruitment pool for the industry; millions of people who could bring their highly skilled and focussed attributes to our team in the ways they process information differently, approaching problems from different perspectives.
Computers use data, patterns and programming, and this is often suited to many neurodiverse minds and the ways they work best. However, we must not assume that this applies to everyone, as all individuals - whether neurodiverse or neurotypical - are completely unique.
We seek to provide world-class products and services to our customers and know that this will come through by having a truly diverse team in every way. At a time when the cyber security industry has a skills shortage of approximately 13,500 new people each year to meet demand, according to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology (DSIT), it’s not hard to see why increasing neurodiversity in the industry should be a top priority.
....did you know that all of these people below are/were neurodiverse?
Albert Einstein - Scientist & Mathematician
Charles Darwin – Naturalist, Geologist, and Biologist
Bill Gates – Co-founder of the Microsoft Corporation
Sir Isaac Newton – Mathematician, Astronomer, & Physicist
Elon Musk - Entrepreneur
Steve Jobs – Former CEO of Apple
Look at what they have achieved in their distinguished careers! Wouldn't you want to have them on your team?
To learn more about how you can help to increase awareness and acceptance, please visit the National Autistic Society website.
