Empowering People

15/04/2026

Something is shifting in Scotland, and we want to mark it.

Earlier this month, the Scottish Parliament's Equalities, Human Rights and Civil Justice Committee published its inquiry into neurodivergence in Scotland. For months, neurodivergent adults from across the country shared their experiences with MSPs, honestly, bravely, and often painfully.

One moment has stayed with us. Kabie Brook of autism campaign group ARGH Scotland told the committee that before her diagnosis, she had believed she was "a broken human" who didn't deserve to be here.

We share that not to be bleak, but because it captures something true about what it means to go through life not understanding why the world feels so much harder for you than it seems to for everyone else. And it speaks to exactly why this inquiry, and the proposed Learning Disabilities, Autism and Neurodivergence Bill it helped reinvigorate, matters so much.

Scotland's Parliament listened. And it's now pushing for real, tangible change: legal recognition of neurodivergence, mandatory training in public services, and stronger rights to support and advocacy for neurodivergent adults.

That is worth celebrating.

At Empowering People, we see every day what happens when a neurodivergent adult finally gets the right support behind them. The clarity, the confidence, and the careers that follow. The work of getting there isn't small. But Scotland is moving in the right direction, and we're proud to be part of that journey.

If you're a neurodivergent adult in Scotland trying to find your footing at work, or an employer who wants to build a genuinely inclusive team, we'd love to hear from you.

https://news.stv.tv/scotland/msps-call-for-fundamental-change-to-better-support-neurodivergence

10/04/2026

Only around 30% of autistic adults in the UK are in employment, despite the majority wanting to work and having skills employers actively need.

One of the biggest reasons? Masking.

Masking is the daily effort many neurodivergent people put into hiding who they are at work. Suppressing natural communication styles. Mirroring colleagues. Performing "normal." It takes an enormous amount of energy, and over time that energy cost shows up as burnout, anxiety, and people leaving jobs they were otherwise good at.

The thing is, the performance rarely benefits the employer either. When people feel safe to work in ways that suit them, they tend to think more clearly, communicate more honestly, and stay longer.

At Empowering People, we work to connect neurodivergent candidates with employers who are genuinely building those environments. Not just ticking a box, but rethinking how work actually functions for everyone.

If you're a candidate who has spent years masking, you deserve a workplace where you don't have to.

If you're an employer, the question worth asking is: have you made it safe for people to tell you what they need?

We'd love to hear from either of you.

08/04/2026

You know the work you do is worth it when you get a message like this from a parent.

But honestly, full credit to Stuart for embracing every opportunity and really stepping into his potential.

So proud of Stuart and how far he’s come.

Shared with permission

31/03/2026

We recently had the pleasure of hosting two fantastic training days for our clients in partnership with the Maldron Hotel in Glasgow – and what a couple of days it was!

The sessions were all about empowerment, giving everyone a real insight into the wide range of departments within the hotel. From front-of-house to behind-the-scenes, our clients had the opportunity to learn how each team plays a vital role in delivering an exceptional guest experience.

One of the highlights of the days was the hands-on experience. Clients got involved in cocktail making and barista training, building new skills and confidence in a fun, supportive environment.

A huge thank you to the incredible hotel staff who went above and beyond to make the days so special. The HR team, Anthony Roukoz and Thomas Richardson, were particularly outstanding in how they engaged and supported our clients throughout. It was also great to see the Hotel’s General Manager, Janneman Britz, take the time to come down, say hello, and show his support.

Overall, it was an inspiring and memorable experience, leaving everyone feeling motivated, valued, and excited about future opportunities.

27/03/2026

I recently had the pleasure of appearing on the Ponies Help Children podcast.

An inspiring conversation that highlighted the powerful overlap between the work they do and what we offer at Empowering People.

At the heart of both organisations is a shared mission: supporting children and young people to build confidence, resilience, and emotional wellbeing.

Ponies Help Children achieves this through equine-assisted therapy, creating meaningful connections between children and rescued ponies to foster trust, self-awareness, and healing.

At Empowering People, we focus on developing those same core outcomes, creating spaces where individuals can grow, build confidence, and feel supported to move forward in their lives.

What stood out most is how different approaches can lead to the same impact:

Building confidence
Strengthening emotional resilience
Creating safe, supportive environments for growth

It’s a powerful reminder that collaboration and recognising shared purpose can amplify the difference we make.

A huge thank you to Ponies Help Children for having me on the podcast.
🎧 Take a listen: https://open.spotify.com/episode/3N4XEdHfnYR6St7nowYnyl?si=4a9d20d9a1104e70

🌐 Learn more about Empowering People: https://www.empowering-people.co.uk/

26/03/2026

✨ What an unforgettable evening! ✨

We recently had the absolute pleasure of celebrating the 7th Anniversary of Sharpen Her - and what an inspiring, empowering, and joy-filled event it was!

From the very start, we were captivated by Dr Esther Chioma Uwandu-Mordi, who shared her incredible journey of resilience, feminism, and achieving her PhD - yes, while pregnant! 👏 Her message on the power of sisterhood truly set the tone for the night.

Then came Peter Igbinosa, Founder of Move Forward Movement, who delivered a powerful and heartfelt session on men’s mental health and emotional resilience. His self-affirmation exercise reminded us all of the importance of confidence, self-belief, and taking a moment to truly see ourselves.

And of course, the evening wouldn’t be complete without the amazing Angie Mwafulirwa, whose journey from Malawi to building a thriving, supportive community in Glasgow was nothing short of inspiring. Her vision, to create a space where women uplift, motivate, and sharpen each other, has truly come to life! 💛

The theme of the night said it all: Iron sharpens iron.

We left feeling energised, inspired, and full, both mentally and physically (the food and music were amazing too!

A huge thank you to Angie for inviting Empowering People to be part of such a special celebration. We’re already looking forward to next year! 🙌

Jodi Codona Ayana Ritchie

25/03/2026

We’re still smiling after such a brilliant experience with the GROW Programme 💫

Recently, we had the opportunity to partner with Glasgow Chamber of Commerce as part of their Glasgow Regional Opportunities for Work (GROW) Programme, an initiative that connects young people with real insight into the world of work and the many paths available to them.

We had the pleasure of hosting 10 amazing young people from Castlemilk High School, and honestly… they brought such a great energy to the day! From interactive games to our “Design the Ideal Workplace” challenge, it was incredible to see their creativity and teamwork in action. Each group imagined a workplace that prioritised wellbeing and embraces neurodiversity, and the ideas were genuinely inspiring.

We also shared our journey at Empowering People and what an inclusive workplace really means to us day-to-day.

A huge highlight was hearing from our guest speakers. Declan Ritchie shared his journey from a Train Maintenance Apprentice to a Trainee Solicitor, proof that career paths don’t have to be linear. Alex Barclay also spoke about her journey across multiple industries, from retail to aviation to hospitality, and how those experiences led her to her current role as a Community Manager.

If there was one key takeaway from the day, it’s this:

There is no one “type” of good worker. Different minds, different strengths, different paths---and that’s exactly how it should be.

A huge thank you to our Social Media Manager and Photographer, Gabriel Sykes, for capturing the day so perfectly — we really couldn’t have done it without you!

And of course, a big thank you to Declan, Alex, and everyone who helped bring this together, especially Eve Holmes, Iona Bradley and Thom Howell. Grateful to have been part of something so meaningful! 🙌

20/03/2026

As Neurodiversity Celebration Week comes to a close, here’s a summary of our LinkedIn posts throughout the week,

On day one, we heard from our Social Media Manager, Gabriel Sykes, about what his work means to him, stating "I genuinely believe that services like those we provide are of immense value."

On day two, we heard from Ayana Ritchie, our Recruitment, Employment, and Engagement Executive, about her perspective and insights on the value of working in a neurodivergent workplace, stating "What I'm most proud of is the work we do to create real change."

On day three, we heard from our CEO, Jodi Codona, about what neurodiversity means to her, stating "Disability doesn't define people, but society often tries to."

On day four, we examined some of the statistics surrounding the employment rates of people with disabilities, and they were shocking. Only around 50% of working-age disabled people are in employment, with the figure shrinking to 30% when narrowed down to just those with autism. This sits in stark contrast to the 80% of non-disabled adults currently in employment, despite many disabled adults being keen to work.

On day five, we issued a call to action to all employers. Don't be hesitant to hire disabled individuals, as they can be just as much an asset to your team as a non-disabled individual, if not more so. Reasonable adjustments can be much less difficult and costly than you might imagine, and they make a massive difference to those who need them. If you're unsure of where to start when it comes to creating a more neurodiverse-friendly workplace, feel free to get in touch with us.

To see the full posts, please head over to our LinkedIn page at https://www.linkedin.com/company/98934469.

https://www.neurodiversityweek.com/

30/01/2026

On Tuesday, I had the pleasure of joining Public Speaking Fundamentals: Mastering the Basics to Sell More Confidently, hosted by Calum Moore—and it did not disappoint.

The room was full of people from all backgrounds: seasoned presenters and first-timers alike. Whether you speak for a living or were stepping up for the first time, everyone walked away with something valuable!

🔑 My biggest takeaway? Commitment, Pacing, and Variety (CPV).

Great speakers know when to pause—and when to switch it up. Intentional pauses make key points land, while changes in pitch, volume, speed, and tone keep people locked in. That’s how a message becomes memorable, not forgettable.

Here’s to showing up more confidently at your next event 🎤✨

- Ayana Ritchie

23/01/2026

24/05/2025

Spent a worthwhile few hours at the Ideal Home Show this morning with Warren Paul from Paramount Events—our Employment Engagement Partners and a main sponsor of the show this year. They’re also exhibiting to promote their upcoming Home Improvement Awards.

I met some great business owners who are interested in building a more inclusive and diverse workforce and are potentially looking to support our clients.

It was great to meet and speak with you all—I wish you a successful show!

24/05/2025

Wow what a quick week that has been!

Just been reflecting on the past 10 days and thinking about some of the fantastic organisations out there doing so much in the employment space, especially for people who face multiple challenges and barriers to employment, for lots of different reasons.

I was honoured to be invited to speak last week at the 60th Carers Scotland Employment Conference to talk about my carers experience and the barriers and challenges to employment that created and how being on the Making Work Work Women Returners Employability Programme by The Challenges Group, significantly helped me on my journey to my now career path.

What an informative, thought provoking and inspiring afternoon, with some amazing guess speakers from organisations that are leading the way when it comes to supporting unpaid carers in the workplace.

Was lovely to meet the Chair Kate Guthrie and also Hayley Burton from Carers Scotland.

Thank you to Anja Kirchhof for coming along on the day and supporting me and to Lynn Houmdi CMgr MCMI for getting me involved.

Thank you to Carers Scotland for the opportunity to be involved and share my story.



Ashley McPartlin Joanne Dixon Louise Guy Louise MacDonald Chartered MCIPD Richard Meade Fiona Sinclair Kathryn von Stegmann Ian Whyte.

/ Empowering People