Embracing Neurodiversity: Bridging the Skills Gap in Engineering

Earlier this month, we marked Neurodiversity Celebration Week (March 17-23, 2025), a time to recognise the talents and contributions of neurodiverse individuals, while also acknowledging the barriers they can face. Traditionally, diversity efforts in engineering have focused on gender and ethnicity, with neurodiversity often overlooked. 

However, this year’s celebrations highlight a positive shift – conversations around the topic are growing, and employers are making stronger commitments to support neurodivergent employees. This shift is particularly significant in engineering and manufacturing, a sector facing severe skills gaps.

In the UK, about one in seven people is neurodivergent. The Engineering Professors Council suggests there are between 12-15,000 neurodiverse students in the UK beginning courses in engineering each year, while the engineering charity Foothold estimates there are currently 820,000 neurodivergent engineers in the UK – though the actual number is likely much higher. This sizable pool of highly skilled, innovative thinkers can be a huge asset to the industry.