Website: https://www.arcadis.com/en

Employees: 30,000+

Industry: Design and Engineering

Location: Global (EU, North America, Latin America, Asia, Middle East, Australia)

Learners: 470

Arcadis is a global leader in design and engineering, with over 36,000 employees worldwide, including around 5,000 across the UK and Ireland. The company is known for its commitment to sustainability, innovation, and inclusive design.

Arcadis understands that people culture is central to shaping the future of engineering. With around 1,800 employees (5%) having formally shared they are neurodivergent, Arcadis recognised the opportunity to support a much broader population and lead the way in neuroinclusive workplace culture. They approached National Neurodiversity Training to help turn that ambition into practical, lasting change.

The Challenge

The engineering sector often sees high rates of undiagnosed or unsupported neurodivergent talent. Neurodivergent teams can be up to 30% more productive with the right support, yet 50% of neurodivergent employees report actively considering leaving due to a lack of understanding.

At Arcadis, only 5% of employees had disclosed their neurodivergence through internal systems, but demand for change was already growing. Staff-led networks were expanding, and interest from across the business was clear. As Matthew Harmsworth, Neurodiversity ERG Co-chair, shared:

"We're seeing a lot of demand from employees who are parents of neurodivergent kids or are neurodivergent themselves. They want to understand what their diagnosis means, how to support themselves, and how that impacts them at work."

As with many organisations in engineering and consultancy, Arcadis operates on a billable-hours model, which can create practical barriers to learning and development. Arcadis and its leaders recognised that supporting neurodivergent employees was about strengthening business performance: unlocking potential, retaining skilled talent, and building psychological safety across global teams.

The Solution

Working closely with Arcadis's Neurodiversity Employee Resource Group and People team, National Neurodiversity Training delivered a training experience for employees at all levels of seniority, focused on neurodiversity at work, language, reasonable adjustments, and self-support strategies.

The training combined lived-experience-led delivery with guided reflection, giving learners a safe and supportive space to explore how their neurodivergence shows up at work and to identify what they need to thrive.  

The training was designed and delivered by neurodivergent professionals, ensuring Arcadis benefited from National Neurodiversity Training's lived-experience and data-backed approach to build practical understanding and promote lasting behavioural change.

All learners left with clear action points and one shared:

“This was so very helpful; I now have actionable takeaways. Being neurodivergent can often feel lonely, but thanks to this I feel more supported at Arcadis and connected to colleagues who are all over the world.”

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The Results

Understanding and Disclosure

• 35% of participants shared, anonymously, that they are neurodivergent

Psychological Safety and Confidence

• 33% improvement in psychological safety, including comfort discussing neurodiversity or asking for support at work

• 9% average increase in ability to identify support needs, rising to 39% among those already confident, showing value even for experienced learners

Overall Impact

• 94% of learners were satisfied or very satisfied with the training

• 88% would be disappointed if further neurodiversity training was not available

Why This Matters

For HR and People leaders, these results show what's possible with a strategic approach to neurodiversity. A rise in disclosure, stronger psychological safety, and high satisfaction all point to greater trust, better retention of neurodivergent talent, and a workforce better equipped to perform. For a global organisation operating under commercial pressure, this is a clear example of culture investment delivering measurable return.

Looking Ahead

Arcadis continues to build on this work, supported by a passionate internal neurodiversity network and committed senior stakeholders. With evidence-based insight from this training now informing future plans, Arcadis is shaping a workplace where neurodivergent people can thrive, reflecting the kind of people-centered employers National Neurodiversity Training is proud to support.

Looking to build a more neurodiversity confident culture in your organisation? Book a free consultation to see how National Neurodiversity Training can support you.