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Ulster University Alumni, Gary Gates and Cara Ferguson, Co-Founders of Neurodiversity SPARK, shortlisted for UK StartUp Award.
The UK StartUp Awards was launched to recognise the booming start-up scene across the UK, which has accelerated over the last few years with 846,000 new businesses founded in the UK in 2024.
Belfast-based start-up, Neurodiversity SPARK, has been nominated for the Health & Wellbeing StartUp of the Year Award in Northern Ireland.
Neurodiversity SPARK is a lived-experience-led initiative founded by Gary Gates and Cara Ferguson in 2024. It exists to empower neurodivergent people, raise awareness, and drive meaningful change. SPARK helps organisations and individuals better understand neurodivergence and build more inclusive environments.
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"So many neurodivergent people face barriers at work not because of a lack of skill, but because the environment wasn’t built with them in mind. Being shortlisted for this award shines a light on the urgent need for more inclusive, neurodivergent-friendly workplaces - and we’re proud to be part of that shift."
The UK StartUp Awards is a collaboration between the founders of the Great British Entrepreneur Awards; an established programme nationally receiving thousands applications annually. The UK StartUp Awards will recognise the achievements of those amazing individuals who have had a great idea, spotted the opportunity and taken the risks to launch a new product or service.
The cohort of finalists will be considered for the regional prizes by a panel of seasoned judges with experience founding or supporting entrepreneurial ventures. The winners from each region will then be invited to the first UK final taking place at Ideas Fest, the Glastonbury for Business Festival in Hertfordshire on 12th September 2025.
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"We’re genuinely honoured to be shortlisted for this award. SPARK was born from our own lived experiences and a desire to create something that didn’t often exist, a space where neurodivergent voices lead the conversation. Being recognised in this way reinforces the idea that co-creation and lived-experience are catalysts for change, and we hope it helps shine a light on the importance of listening to and working with those who are often overlooked."
Ulster University are extremely proud of Gary and Cara and all they have achieved with Neurodiversity SPARK to promote neuroinclusion. We wish them the very best of luck at the UK StartUp Awards!
