The NOW Group, a Dublin Chamber member, is a social enterprise that supports people with intellectual disabilities or neurodivergence conditions into jobs with a future. Home to the JAM card, the organisation has opened its first café in Dublin at Kilmainham - Loaf Café.
The Social Enterprise is widely recognised as a disruptor in the marketplace with the NOW Group introducing innovative solutions for its participants and businesses. By bridging the gap, the NOW Group helps people with disabilities move into paid jobs, and it is focused on delivering this at scale. The organisation supports participants to thrive in their workplace, building partnerships with businesses that see the NOW Group place multiple people in one company and across many sectors.
The NOW Group has seen first-hand, the transformative power of embracing neurodiversity and its aim is to help businesses create a more diverse workplace, creating inclusive environments where individuals of all abilities feel valued and supported.
The role of leadership in driving inclusion
CEO, Maeve Monaghan, is a passionate advocate for fairness, inclusion and diversity in society and Maeve is encouraging others to adopt a more inclusive mindset, explaining how business owners can get involved in building more diverse workforces in 2025.
“Back in 2001 when we launched the NOW Group in Belfast, the jobs market offered few opportunities for individuals of different abilities. People with people with intellectual disabilities or neurodivergence conditions faced limited access to training and work experience, often excluding them from employment,” comments Maeve.
She continues: “It has taken time and patience, but thankfully, conversations on neurodiversity have evolved. Operating in Northern Ireland for over 20 years, I’m so proud to say that NOW Group has made a huge difference. In just the last five years, we have supported over 7,000 people with disabilities to gain 4,600 accredited qualifications and secure 700 paid jobs. It’s this level of impact that we’re focused on delivering in Ireland.”
Business benefits of embracing neurodiversity
With a laser focus on ESG across businesses, leaders need to know that they don’t have to do it all on their own. NOW Group is the Inclusion Partner of choice for many businesses and welcomes the opportunity to talk to organisations about how it can help make businesses more inclusive, recruit and retain staff from new talent pools, and deliver social value.
Maeve adds: “We’re so thankful to our jobs partners - especially to our first Irish jobs partner, Circle K, who has employed four NOW participants in catering/food preparation roles across Dublin. As an organisation, we plan to secure 300 paid jobs over the next three years for our participants, and we’re actively calling for Jobs Partners to collaborate with in building more inclusive workplaces while filling job vacancies across sectors. Embracing neurodiversity isn’t just a ‘nice-to-have’; it makes great business sense.”
By fostering a culture of innovation and creative problem-solving, diverse perspectives often lead to unique solutions, enhancing adaptability and competitiveness. Companies that embrace neurodiversity also improve employee retention and satisfaction while attracting top talent, broadening their customer base, and enhancing their brand reputation.
The hidden reality of disability in the workplace
One in five people have hidden and invisible disabilities, including those in boardrooms, senior management teams, and across workforces. As the marketplace evolves, businesses across the Island of Ireland have unprecedented opportunities to embrace neurodiversity and create more inclusive environments.
Insights from the NOW Group leader masterclass
In November, the NOW Group had a full house for its first Leader Masterclass - “Putting the ‘S’ in your ESG.” Motivational business leaders from Boojum, Lidl Ireland, Lidl Northern Ireland, Circle K, and the National Transport Authority shared inspiring stories about the incredible work they are already doing. For 2025, the NOW Group will focus on building strong partnerships with forward-thinking businesses that embrace all abilities across industries including Hospitality, Catering and Digital.
Partnering with NOW Group for a more inclusive future
There are so many opportunities to partner with NOW Group, and by doing so, increase your business’s social value and impact. For businesses willing to create inclusive environments, there’s a wealth of people who want to work and who can add tremendous value to workplaces. The best time to address diversity in the workplace is NOW. Make 2025 the year your business commits to meaningful change, fostering an inclusive environment, and making diversity a strategic priority.
For more information on NOW Group and how you can partner with the visit, here.