Posted 30 Sep 2025
Genius Within and Nottinghamshire Fire and Rescue Service Partner to Support Neurodivergent Talent
At Genius Within, we believe that every workplace has the potential to be inclusive, innovative, and supportive of all employees. That’s why we are proud to share our partnership with Nottinghamshire Fire and Rescue Service, who have taken proactive steps to better support their neurodiverse workforce using our Genius Finder Pro™ tool.
Meeting the Challenge of Neurodiversity in the Fire Service
Fire and rescue services operate in high-pressure environments where clear communication, teamwork, and adaptability are critical. However, Nottinghamshire Fire and Rescue Service identified a challenge: many recruits were only disclosing their neurodivergence after training had begun, often once they were already facing difficulties.
To build a more inclusive workplace from day one, they needed to:
- Encourage early disclosure.
- Provide practical, cost-effective support.
- And importantly, deliver strategies tailored to the unique operational environment of the fire service.
Genius Finder Pro™: A Bespoke Solution
To meet this challenge, we partnered with Nottinghamshire Fire and Rescue Service to create a bespoke version of Genius Finder Pro™ — our digital strengths-based screening tool.
Genius Finder Pro™ empowers organisations by:
- Identifying individual strengths and challenges to build confidence and self-awareness.
- Opening up conversations early between recruits, managers, and trainers.
- Offering immediate support strategies without waiting for lengthy assessments.
Having the opportunity to create this bespoke version has allowed us to utilise this support in all roles across the organisation including those in response. To be able to use the Genuis Finder as a starting point we are able to work alongside individuals to ensure that they are given the support needed to thrive in their role.
Dena Durman, EDI Officer, Nottinghamshire Fire & Rescue Service
Working closely with Harveen Kandola, Dr Nancy Doyle, and the wider Genius Within team, we tailored Genius Finder Pro™ specifically for firefighting roles. The strategies were not just focused on the fireground. Every strategy was carefully reviewed and adapted to ensure relevance across the real roles within the service, whether that’s fighting fires on the ground, training on the drill yard, delivering community fire safety talks, or completing theory-based work in the office.
Real-World Impact
The impact of this partnership has been felt across the service. For example:
- Neurodivergent recruits feel supported from the very start of their training journey.
- Managers are equipped with practical strategies to help their teams thrive in high-pressure environments.
- Teams benefit from a stronger culture of inclusion and collaboration.
- Ultimately, communities are ultimately safer, thanks to a resilient and effective fire service.
Building Inclusive Workplaces with Genius Finder Pro™
By embedding Genius Finder Pro™ into recruitment and training, Nottinghamshire Fire and Rescue Service is setting a new benchmark for neurodiversity inclusion in the public sector. This project shows what is possible when organisations embrace innovation and commit to supporting their workforce.
Working with the team at Notts Fire Service was a real pleasure. Their feedback and real-world insights were incredibly helpful in shaping the work, and their commitment really showed in how much of their valuable time they dedicated to supporting the project.
Harveen Kandola, Genius Within
At Genius Within, we are proud to co-create tools like Genius Finder Pro™ that enable employees to bring their authentic selves to work, while giving managers the insight and strategies they need to nurture diverse teams.
Interested in Building an Inclusive Workplace?
Don’t wait until challenges arise, create solutions from day one.
With Genius Finder Pro™, you can spot strengths, provide tailored support, and foster thriving teams from the very start.
📞 Call us: 01273 890502
📧 Email: info@geniusfinder.com