The Licensed Trade Charity (LTC) has introduced a comprehensive new employment guide aimed at assisting hospitality managers in recruiting, onboarding, and retaining neurodiverse teams. The initiative, dubbed ‘Empowering Neurodiversity in the Workplace’, is now available for free on the LTC website. This resource comes in response to feedback from hospitality operators and LTC beneficiaries, highlighting the necessity for tailored materials to support neurodiverse colleagues in the sector.

The guide emphasises the value of constructing a workforce characterised by diverse preferences and skill sets, distinguishing itself from generic resources by specifically addressing the unique demands of the hospitality industry. It serves as a practical tool for managers, featuring step-by-step guidance throughout various phases of the employee journey.

Supporting the initiative, research from Deloitte indicates that neurodivergent teams can achieve productivity improvements of up to 30 per cent in certain roles, while a McKinsey report points to a 19 per cent increase in profitability for companies that boast diverse workforces. Chris Welham, CEO of LTC, articulated a positive outlook on this approach: “The LTC is on a mission to help the licensed trade embrace difference, positively address the barriers that exclude many candidates from entering the workplace – and support performance,” he noted.

Welham further elaborated that having a diverse team mirrors the rich variety of individuals within a community, enabling employees to connect with customers from varied backgrounds. Understanding the strengths and skills of individual team members can also lead to improved efficiencies.

The guide provides insights into identifying differing strengths among team members, highlighting how some excel in problem-solving and innovation while others may thrive in structured environments. By investing in role customization, promoting flexible working arrangements, and engendering an inclusive culture, the LTC aims to attract and retain a diverse talent pool, ultimately enhancing operational performance.

In collaboration with beneficiaries and supporters, LTC gathered insights for the guide, including contributions from Stuart Green, manager of the Cabbage Patch in Twickenham. Green stated, “We’ve worked with more than 300 people with neurodivergent thinking in the Cabbage Patch. With the right in-work support, we grow team members who are passionate about being in-work and are fully engaged in whatever task you ask them to do. In turn, we fill vacancies and create a diverse and inclusive workforce that represents the communities we serve.”

Welham concluded by pointing out the growing need for creativity, adaptability, and problem-solving skills within the industry as it moves towards 2025. He asserted that the creative capabilities found in neurodiverse teams will be vital for achieving growth, emphasising, “By being inclusive and working together, we can create the memorable, customer-centric experiences that our sector is known for – and that is good for business.”

The new digital guide is accessible online, while employers seeking printed copies for their teams or who wish to learn more about the support the LTC offers can reach out through the provided contact information.