Designing Fair and Inclusive Recruitment
About the organisation
Leeds Autism Services is a charity that has supported autistic people across Leeds for more than 30 years. The organisation is committed to creating an inclusive workplace where everyone has the opportunity to succeed. Rather than expecting people to fit traditional recruitment processes, it focuses on removing barriers, recognising individual strengths and creating fair opportunities for all candidates.
The Challenge
Traditional recruitment processes can unintentionally disadvantage neurodivergent candidates and others who may experience barriers to employment. Leeds Autism Services recognised that relying on assumptions or expecting everyone to perform in the same way could mean talented people were unintentionally excluded or overlooked. The organisation wanted to make recruitment and employment practices fairer by focusing on people's strengths and creating processes that support different needs.
Approach in action
Leeds Autism Services takes a strengths-based approach to recruitment and employment. Rather than making assumptions about what people can or cannot do, the organisation encourages recruiting managers to focus on individual skills, interests and potential.
Interview questions are shared with all candidates in advance as standard practice, helping reduce unnecessary anxiety and enabling people to demonstrate their knowledge, skills and potential more effectively. Recruitment opportunities are also promoted through community organisations and local networks to help reach people who may otherwise face barriers to employment.
The organisation also recognises that fairness does not always mean treating everyone the same. Managers are encouraged to consider reasonable adjustments on an individual basis and understand that many adjustments are simple, low-cost or free to implement.
Rather than assuming what someone needs, conversations focus on understanding the individual and working together to identify practical solutions that enable people to succeed at work.
Impact and learning
By removing unnecessary barriers from recruitment and employment, Leeds Autism Services has created fairer opportunities for people with different strengths, experiences and support needs. The organisation has found that focusing on individual potential rather than assumptions helps create a more inclusive workplace, broadens access to employment and enables people to contribute in ways that reflect their strengths.
Key takeaway for other employers
Creating a fair workplace starts by recognising that people have different strengths, experiences and support needs. Reviewing recruitment processes, removing unnecessary barriers and considering reasonable adjustments as part of everyday practice can help more people access opportunities and succeed at work.