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.
Over 750 businesses have been shortlisted for this year’s UK StartUp Awards and the contribution of these firms - all of which were started in the last three years - is significant, having created over 4,600 new jobs since they were established and generating annual sales of £200 million.
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.
The business has been nominated for the Health & Wellbeing StartUp of the Year Award in Northern Ireland.
Gary, co-founder of SPARK, said: “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.”
Cara Ferguson, co-founder of SPARK, added: “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.”
Supported nationally by Airwallex, Join Talent & V Rum, the programme will celebrate the achievements of the amazing individuals who have turned an idea into an opportunity and taken the risk 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.
Professor Dylan Jones-Evans OBE, the creator of the UK StartUp Awards, said: “ New businesses are the driving force behind any thriving economy, generating employment, pioneering innovation, and contributing to prosperity across the UK. This year's finalists embody the very best of entrepreneurial spirit - spotting opportunities and, through dedication, skill, and resilience, turning them into thriving ventures that are making a tangible difference in their industries. More importantly, all the winners will go on to represent their region at the 2025 UK National StartUp Awards final later this year”.
Read More: SPARK brings free neurodivergent family fun day to Belfast this Saturday
The UK StartUp Awards was created in collaboration with the team behind the Great British Entrepreneur Awards, one of the most successful awards programmes in the UK. The UK StartUp Awards are running for the fourth year after launching in 2022.
This year’s regional UK StartUp Awards finalists can be found online at https://startupawards.uk/.
Neurodiversity SPARK can be found online at www.neurodiversityspark.com
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