Posted 10 Jul 2025
Social Recruitment Advocacy Group – Genius Within C.I.C. awarded Gold Charter Status
Date: 10-July-2025
Employers need to place a more significant focus on recruiting people in who are disadvantaged in the labour market.
That’s why Genius Within C.I.C. is an active and proud member of the Social Recruitment Advocacy Group #SRAG led by @PeoplePlusUK
So we are excited and proud to have been awarded the Gold Charter Mark.
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Commenting for SRAG, Kenny Boyle, People Plus CEO called out some of the key reasons for Genius Within’s Gold Award:
- Inclusive recruitment practices
- Creation of a psychologically safe culture
- Support beyond hiring
- Employee voice in governance
- Representation in leadership
For more detail on the details behind Genius Within’s Award, read on below
Fiona Barrett, Chief Operating Officer and Social Justice Director at Genius Within commented:
“It’s easy to assume everyone understands neuroinclusion. But the real progress comes when you create space to ask questions, share language, and apply it practically.”
And went on to say:
“This work isn’t about labels – it’s about unlocking talent. That starts with listening and acting on what people need to thrive at work.”
What Genius Within evidenced to secure SRAG Gold Charter Status
- Supporting neurodivergent jobseekers through tailored coaching and workplace support
- Advising employers on inclusive recruitment, onboarding, and retention strategies
- Reviewing internal practices to ensure Genius Within models the values it promotes externally
- Sharing evidence and insight with the wider SRAG network via Lunch and Learn sessions and employer events
What has changed as a result
- Clearer narrative around inclusive practice as both an operational strength and social value asset
- Stronger engagement with employers looking to move from awareness to action
- Greater alignment across delivery and internal teams around inclusion goals
What we would share with other employers looking to become more inclusive
- Make inclusion part of your internal practice – and your external offer
- Use real stories to show what good support looks like
- Don’t wait to have it perfect – start with conversations and build from there
What next. Looking ahead for Genius Within.
- Partnering with more employers through training and advisory services
- Developing peer resources to support practical neuroinclusive hiring
- Continuing to contribute to the SRAG network through shared learning and lived experience insight
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What is social recruitment and why is it so important?
The SRAG group provide an excellent answer to this.
“Social recruitment is an approach to hiring that positively impacts every part of society and the economy by moving unemployed people, who are furthest away from the labour market, into sustainable jobs. The ‘disadvantages’ or ‘barriers’ to employment are created by a huge range of factors. Individuals including young people not in education, employment, or training (NEET), unpaid carers, prison-leavers, single parents who lack childcare options, black and ethnic minority communities, those living in poverty and areas of multiple deprivation, and people with long-term health and disability challenges – all need support.
By encouraging to actively pursue positive action that results in more people from disadvantaged backgrounds having employment opportunities opened up to them, we will create a more inclusive and dynamic economy that contributes to stronger economic growth.
We are dealing with significant economic challenges. Now is the time to be embraced by a growing movement of employers who are committed to active social recruitment.”
More information on the why SRAG awarded Genius Within C.I.C. Gold Charter Status
- Inclusive Recruitment Practices
Genius Within has taken clear, proactive steps to recruit inclusively – particularly in relation to ethnicity, LGBTQ+ inclusion, and other characteristics that are often linked to systemic barriers in the labour market. The intent behind these initiatives is evident and meaningful. - Creating a Psychologically Safe Culture
There’s a strong emphasis on building a workplace where people feel confident to be themselves. Support structures are in place to encourage disclosure of characteristics that may require adjustments – reflecting a deep understanding of what true inclusion looks like in practice. - Support Beyond Hiring
The commitment to in-role support is equally commendable. It’s not just about getting someone through the door – it’s about ensuring they thrive. That ongoing support makes a real difference and demonstrates that inclusion is part of the employee lifecycle, not just recruitment. - Employee Voice in Governance
The role of Employee Resource Groups stands out, not just in their existence but in the influence they hold. Their presence in governance frameworks shows that lived experience and employee voice are part of how decisions are made, shaping organisational culture from within. - Representation in Leadership
Representation at senior levels is a strong signal of intent. The diversity seen across the leadership team reinforces that inclusive hiring is backed by inclusive progression, and that change is embedded at a structural level – not left to chance.