I was nominated for this award as The Neurodiversity Career Coach, which means the world to me. But I’ve made a bold move since then. I’ve doubled down on the impact I know I can make and built something stronger, louder, and braver. That something is ‘Recruit Inclusively’ – a game-changing D&I initiative that doesn’t just talk about inclusion. It builds it into every part of the hiring process and beyond. I set up Recruit Inclusively in September 2024 but wanted to bring the workshops and coaching to corporates and now I have managed to craft the perfect solution!
I’m Phillipa Nicholson. Inclusion consultant, recruitment expert, workshop facilitator, and neurodiverse myself. I’m not here to sprinkle buzzwords over broken systems. I’m here to fix what’s not working – and I know exactly where to start, because I’ve lived it, I’ve suffered it and I am it!
For years, I watched incredible neurodivergent candidates get pushed aside. Not because they weren’t capable, but because hiring processes weren’t built for minds like theirs. They never got the chance to show what they could do. I was one of them once – misunderstood, overlooked, and made to feel like too much and not enough at the same time. Suffering toxic workplaces and bullying that ran from the classroom in to the boardroom (well ops room in air traffic but it’s just another toxic work environment). That lit a fire in me. I knew I had to change the whole bloody system, not just patch up the edges.
So I created Recruit Inclusively to offer something different. Our immersive workshops are the first of their kind in the UK. We cover 18 neurodivergent conditions, not just the usual four. They’re not dry PowerPoints or awkward breakout rooms. We use storytelling, challenges, roleplay, first-person case studies, and our flagship VR experiences to put people in the shoes of their neurodivergent colleagues. It’s not about sympathy. It’s about getting under the skin of it – seeing the barriers, feeling the overwhelm, and walking away ready to do something about it. It’s training people remember. And more importantly, it changes how they hire, lead and support.
But we don’t stop at workshops. Our Talent Acquisition as a Service model (TAaaS) supports employers through the full recruitment journey. We rewrite job specs. We train hiring managers. We sit in interviews, audit processes, and make sure the experience works for all minds. Then we stay for onboarding and retention too. We’re in the weeds with you, making sure that inclusion isn’t just something you talk about in the welcome pack.
Our corporate membership also gives teams direct access to us. Line managers can ask how to support someone. Candidates can ask for adjustments. HR can get advice on inclusive practices. Staff members can reach us in a crisis or moment of overwhelm for coaching and support – all from the company wellbeing budget with no hidden extras. No gatekeeping. No stigma. Just real-time, real-life support. We’re filling the gap most companies don’t even realise exists.
And the authentic ‘insert human here’… I built this while home-educating three kids, being sole carer for my nanna, and running another recruitment business. I’ve built this from the ground up – no corporate backing, no fancy investors, just fire, grit, coffee and lived experience. I know how it feels to burn out. To mask. To be laughed at. To have your neurodivergence mocked. To juggle a million plates and still feel like you’re failing. That’s why everything we do is built for real people, real teams, and real workplaces. No fluff. No fads. Just proper inclusion, baked into the bones of how you recruit and retain.
I’m proud that what started as a deeply personal mission is now a growing movement. We’re changing mindsets, shifting cultures, and helping companies stop losing incredible talent because of outdated systems. It’s bold. It’s honest. And it’s working.
We’re not just here to help businesses do better. We’re here to make sure they are better – from the first job ad to the final promotion. And we’re only just getting started.
