About this Event
Starting a Business as an Autistic Student (with ADHD welcomed and included)
Traditional business advice is rarely designed with autistic people in mind.
It often prioritises speed, networking, pitching and “hustle” — things that can feel inaccessible, exhausting, or simply not aligned with how autistic brains work. For students with ADHD too, the overwhelm can be even greater.
This workshop is specifically designed for autistic students (diagnosed or self-identified), with ADHD explicitly welcomed, who are curious about starting a business, freelancing, or creating something of their own after college or university.
Whether you’ve left further education, have graduated or are still working out what path to follow, come and join us
About the hosts
The session is led by Kelly and Hester Grainger, co-founders of Perfectly Autistic.
Kelly spent 23 years in the corporate world, working in senior roles across large organisations including PepsiCo, News International and Merlin Entertainments, before retraining as a workplace mediator and neurodiversity consultant following his late diagnosis as autistic and ADHD.
Hester’s background is in TV, radio, PR and marketing, where she spent over 25 years working in fast-paced, high-pressure environments before moving into coaching, speaking and consultancy following her ADHD diagnosis in her forties.
Together, they’ve been running Perfectly Autistic for six years, delivering training, consultancy and talks to organisations across the UK and internationally. They bring a mix of real-world business experience, lived experience and practical insight into what working for yourself can look like when you’re autistic (with ADHD very much included).
Together, we’ll explore:
- Why entrepreneurship can be a genuinely good fit for autistic people
- Autistic strengths in business (deep focus, honesty, pattern recognition, originality)
- Common barriers autistic and ADHD founders face — and how to design around them
- Business models that don’t rely on constant socialising, selling or burnout
- How to start small, at your own pace, without pressure to “perform”
- Practical tools and supports that make business more accessible
This is not about masking, forcing yourself to network, or becoming a different version of yourself.
It’s about building a business that fits your communication style, energy levels, values and needs.
No pitching. No jargon. No expectation to already have an idea.
Just a calm, supportive space to think differently about work and possibility.
Who it’s for:
- Autistic UEA students
- ADHD students who relate to autistic ways of working
- Students who feel traditional employment might not suit them
Format:
Inclusive, discussion-led workshop with practical takeaways.
Questions are encouraged, sensory needs respected, and there will be no role play.
By the end of the session, attendees will:
- Feel more confident that starting a business is possible without changing who they are
- Understand how autistic and ADHD traits can be strengths, not barriers, in entrepreneurship
- Have clarity on whether self-employment or business ownership might suit them
- Know practical next steps they can take, even if they’re starting from zero
- Feel less alone, less behind, and reassured there is no “right” timeline
- Leave with tools and strategies to work authentically and sustainably, without burnout
Free pastries will be provided 🥐
Event Venue & Nearby Stays
The Enterprise Centre, University Drive, Norwich, United Kingdom
GBP 0.00
