Inclusive Hiring in Leeds: Lighthouse Futures Trust’s Free Service

For Leeds employers, finding the right person for the right role can be a time-consuming and expensive process. But making recruitment more inclusive doesn’t have to mean adding to the cost.

Lighthouse Futures Trust is helping businesses access motivated neurodivergent talent through its 100% free Supported Employment Service, giving employers the opportunity to widen their talent pool while making a positive difference.

For businesses, traditional recruitment can bring agency fees, lengthy searches and the ongoing challenge of staff retention. Lighthouse Futures Trust offers an alternative approach, connecting employers with candidates whose skills, strengths and aspirations are carefully matched to the requirements of a role.

A free route to a wider talent pool
One of the biggest advantages for employers is simple: there are no recruitment fees.
Through its Supported Employment Service, Lighthouse Futures Trust provides access to motivated neurodivergent candidates who are prepared for the workplace through targeted skills development, tailored guidance and hands-on experience.

The organisation’s specialist matching process looks beyond simply filling a vacancy. By understanding both the candidate and the employer, it aims to create a stronger fit between individual strengths and the demands of a particular role. That can benefit businesses beyond the initial recruitment process, with the right match potentially supporting stronger retention and reducing the disruption and cost associated with staff turnover. And the support doesn’t end when someone gets the job.

Support that continues
Lighthouse Futures Trust provides time-unlimited job coaching and retention support, helping employees and employers navigate the workplace for as long as support is needed. Businesses can also benefit from workplace audits, practical health and safety guidance and expert advice on creating a more inclusive working environment.

There’s even an opportunity to access complimentary inclusive workplace training without using the recruitment service, giving businesses the chance to strengthen their approach to neurodiversity regardless of whether they currently have a vacancy.

Inclusion that makes business sense
For many organisations, neurodivergent inclusion is an important part of their corporate social responsibility. But it can also make good business sense. Building a more diverse workforce can introduce different perspectives, strengths and approaches to problem-solving, while inclusive workplaces can support team morale, collaboration and an organisation’s wider reputation.

For Leeds employers looking to make recruitment more inclusive, Lighthouse Futures Trust offers a practical way to look beyond the traditional talent pool – without adding recruitment costs.

As a specialist college dedicated to neurodivergent inclusion, Lighthouse Futures Trust prepares young adults for meaningful employment through bespoke pathways and practical experience. Its aim is to build confidence, develop core workplace skills and help students take the next step towards fulfilling careers.
For businesses, that means the opportunity to discover talented people who might otherwise be overlooked. For candidates, it can mean finding an employer where their strengths are recognised and supported.

Ultimately, inclusive recruitment doesn’t have to be complicated or expensive. With the right support, it can be a straightforward way for Leeds businesses to find motivated talent, build stronger teams and create opportunities that work for everyone.