Tom Wellings at Santander highlights the celebration of innovation achieved through inclusive practices

In an interview with myGwork for Attitude, Tom Wellings, External Engagement lead for Santander’s LGBTQ+ network, spoke about his journey of embracing diversity and inclusion within the workplace. With a personal commitment to neurodiversity advocacy, he highlights the strengths that diverse teams bring to the table, enhancing product design and ultimately benefiting both employees and customers.

How does neurodiversity contribute to innovation in the workplace?

"This is something I’m really passionate about! As a dyslexic person myself and an advocate for neurodiversity, I’ve seen firsthand the incredible strengths that neurodivergent individuals bring to the table. They often have an amazing ability to think outside the box, spot patterns others might miss, and approach problems from completely unexpected angles.

Neurodivergent individuals have a different lens on the world, and that fresh perspective often leads to new and unique solutions.

There’s interesting research backing this up too. A 2023 report from Birkbeck University of London found that neurodiverse teams can be 30% more productive than neurotypical ones. This can result in a significant advantage. In our work, this translates to more innovative solutions and products that really resonate. It’s a win-win situation."

Read the full interview with Tom Wellings here.