Hey there, Walnut here!

At Walnut, we’re not only passionate about Market Research and human understanding, but we’re also deeply committed to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI). We believe that our people constitute our network, and it’s the very essence of this understanding that truly sets us apart as an agency.

Today, we are delighted to shine a spotlight on an area of DEI which is very close to our hearts at Walnut – Neurodiversity.

Let’s begin with some facts:

Neurodiversity, in essence, is a remarkable spectrum that encompasses a range of neurological differences, including ADHD, autism, dyslexia, and many more.

Globally, it is estimated that 15-20% of the population are neurodiverse, with an estimated 700,000 autistic adults in the UK and more than 1 in 100 individuals on the autistic spectrum.

Recent research by the ONS has shown a startling 64% of employers still have “little” or “no” understanding of neurodiverse conditions.

This really highlights that employers are leaving a wealth of untapped potential, creativity and fresh talent on the table.

So what makes Walnut different?

Neurodiversity isn’t just a buzzword for us; we wholeheartedly embrace it. We champion the fact that every individual has an exceptionally unique brain, and these differences are our strengths, not our weaknesses. We are dedicated to harnessing the power of every person we hire, and creating a world that values the full spectrum of human capabilities. We are constantly learning from each other, growing, and evolving as an organisation.

How does neurodiversity help us deliver innovative work to our clients?

At the centre of Walnut is the Qualitative Team, which engages with people from all walks of life on various fascinating topics and spends a considerable amount of time observing human behaviour. Their superpower is their ability to effectively communicate with people of diverse backgrounds while interpreting what they see and hear to provide impactful answers to our clients’ burning questions. Having a diverse team is how we excel in this.

So why do we celebrate having neurodiverse team members in our qual department?

1. Facilitating enhanced creativity: Neurodiversity allows for a mix of unique ideas and solutions. By including individuals from all points of the neurodiversity spectrum, we tap into a wealth of creative thinking that can lead to the most incredible client insights and strategies.

2. Enriching our understanding: Having the ability to relate to a broader range of people, allows us to immerse ourselves deeper into consumer behaviours. Thus allowing for more effective, and impactful strategies for our clients. When clients partner with Walnut, they have a team that thrives on inclusive discussion. Every voice is heard at Walnut. We believe that having different types of people from all spectrums is a gold mine to both our team and our clients’ accomplishments.

If you choose to work with Walnut, you’re not just choosing a research agency; you’re choosing to partner with an agency who are dedicated to inclusivity, creativity, and excellent results.