Microlink

We’re All in This Together: Being Disability Confident Benefits Us All
2025-04-24 14:00 - 15:00 UTC
Discover why leadership buy-in is critical for embedding disability inclusion across an organisation. Featuring insights from industry leaders, including Kate Nash OBE and Michael Vermeersch, this session will explore how aligning Disability Confident strategies with business objectives drives long-term success.
Kate is the founder of PurpleSpace, the world’s only global network of disability employee resource groups: a community of 5,000+ leaders across 175+ brands that collectively employ 1.5 million employees with disability.
Michael is Microsoft’s Accessibility Go to Market Manager; his focus is landing Microsoft’s commitment to bridge the “Disability Divide”. Using his creative neurodiverse thinking and passion for inclusion, Michael creates and curates Microsoft’s Digital Inclusion content, to empower inclusive organisations gain greater business advantage.

PurpleSpace ERGs: Empowering Disability Confident Networks
2025-05-29 14:00 - 15:00 UTC
Learn how PurpleSpace’s Employee Resource Groups (ERGs) empower employees with disabilities, build leadership pathways, and contribute to Disability Confident goals. This session will share actionable advice on setting up and sustaining ERGs that deliver impact.
We will be joined by three inspiring speakers:
Sally-Anne Owen, Managing Director at Purple Space- a strategic thinker and passionate advocate for Diversity and Inclusion. Her warm, personable leadership style is at the heart of her work supporting global disability ERGs and networks. Drawing on her lived experience with MS, which she proudly redefines as “Mighty Strong”, Sally helps organisations foster inclusive cultures where everyone can thrive.
Suzie Austen, Brand Manager at WTW and participant in PurpleSpace’s Future Makers programme, brings extensive experience as co-chair of the Workability Inclusion network and co-pillar lead for Disability Smart. In 2024, she was recognised with WTW’s CEO Circle Award for her impactful work. Suzie manages dyslexia, Hypermobile Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome, depression, PTSD, and panic disorder; experiences that drive her passion for creating inclusive and supportive work environments. Her commitment has helped WTW become a Disability Confident Leader.
Annette Moody, Group Technology Governance Director at Serco, is responsible for global technology standards and digital strategy. In 2013, shortly after joining Serco, Annette became paralysed following a spinal cord injury. After 10 months of intensive rehabilitation, she returned to work using a wheelchair and went on to co-found ‘Unlimited’, Serco’s disability network, which supports and attracts colleagues with all types of disabilities.

An ‘Everyone Wins a Balloon’ Masterclass - getting past the ‘YES… BUT’ barricade.
2025-06-26 14:00 - 15:00 UTC
Discover practical strategies from Susan Scott-Parker’s new guide, Everyone Wins a Balloon, on how to overcome resistance to workplace adjustments and unlock productivity through inclusive practices. Learn about Channel 4’s real-world success stories from returning guest, Giles Barker, and explore tools like the 12 Critical Success Factors and the Fit for Purpose Gap Analysis. Perfect for anyone ready to move beyond good intentions and drive real change.

Inclusive Growth: Unlocking the Business Case for Disability Confident
2025-07-31 14:00 - 15:00 UTC
Diane Lightfoot, CEO of Business Disability Forum, George Woods, Sustainability Advisor at Siemens Mobility, and Helene Palmer, Recruitment Team Lead, XPS Group will lead this webinar, focusing on the business benefits of disability inclusion. Learn how disability diversity enhances brand loyalty, innovation, and employee engagement while addressing the bottom line.

Mental Health and Wellbeing in the Workplace: Practical Solutions
2025-09-25 14:00 - 15:00 UTC
Examine how organisations can adopt proactive approaches to employee mental health and wellbeing. Topics include reasonable adjustments for mental health, tackling stigma, and embedding wellbeing into workplace culture.
Microlink’s Access Consultant – Recruitment, Tracey Abbott, will be joined by Microlink’s Consulting Business Psychologist, Abigail Tennant, Martin Jervis, COO and Board Director at Thrive Mental Wellbeing, and Alison Knowles, creator of Ollie and his Super Powers and founder of the Ollie Method.
Martin has 18 years of senior leadership experience across purpose-driven organisations in healthcare, technology, and the charity sector. He also advises The Happiness Foundation, chairs Fundify, and brings international experience from roles across Europe and Africa. Ali has pioneered a simple, non-labelling therapeutic approach now used across schools, families, councils, and healthcare. Recognised with multiple awards in 2025, she leads a network of 100+ coaches delivering measurable emotional wellbeing impact in the UK and beyond.

Achieving more through Microlink's Neurodiversity support
2025-10-23 13:00 - 14:00 UTC
Goal of the session: “You’ll leave with a clear understanding of how we can help you emphasise how your services and strategies can enhance employee well-being, boost performance, and support inclusive workplace practices.

Creating Environments That Work for Everyone: The Power of Adjustment Management
2025-10-30 14:00 - 15:00 UTC
This session provides practical guidance on designing inclusive environments with effective workplace adjustments. Learn how to build scalable systems that support employees with diverse needs, driving organisational efficiency and inclusion. We will be joined by guest speakers, Paul Cutler, Global Head of Branch Design for HSBC, and Jim Rush, Head of Health and Safety at HSBC.
Paul is responsible for the design of HSBC’s branches and wealth centres globally, including the development of HSBC’s retail design standards and best practice to enhance the customer experience for all HSBC customers and colleagues. He joined HSBC on their graduate programme and has undertaken a wide variety of senior roles in retail banking across Marketing, Design, Product Management, and Sales and Distribution, both in the UK and overseas.
Jim is responsible for the design of the Health and Safety Management System and the Workplace Adjustment process used across HSBC’s operations globally, including the development of HSBC’s Minimum Design Standards for Health and Safety, and Accessibility and Inclusion. Prior to joining HSBC in 2016, he worked as an Environmental Health Officer advising on and enforcing Health and Safety, Food, Hygiene, and Environmental legislation, and then for various consulting businesses supporting organisations across a wide range of industry sectors.

Register -Register to our DWP webinar

What's New in AT and AI? ALPACA Assessment
2025-11-19 12:30 - 13:30 (Europe/London)
Discover ALPACA: A Smarter Way to Screen Early Literacy Join us for an insightful webinar introducing ALPACA, a simple, tablet-based screening tool designed to help Reception teachers identify literacy challenges up to 18 months before the Year 1 phonics check. We’ll explore the aims of the 2025–26 national pilot in England, what participating schools can expect, and how this co-creation initiative is shaping the future of early literacy screening in the UK. The session will also cover the upcoming January 2026 entry phase, including how schools can register and get involved.
Register here

Workplace Needs Assessments: One Size Doesn’t Fit All!
2025-11-19 14:00 - 15:00 UTC
Join us for an insightful discussion exploring why a tailored approach to workplace needs assessments is essential for creating inclusive, productive environments.
What to expect:

Expert Perspectives
Practical Strategies on how to support neurodivergent employees
Lived experience perspectives

Who should attend: HR professionals, business leaders, occupational health specialists, and anyone passionate about workplace inclusion and accessibility.
Who is involved: Microlink’s very own Business Psychologists: Hannah Arnold-Wallinger, Magdalena Grudzien, and Noeleen McKenna.

Register here

Let’s Make It Click: Why Digital Accessibility should be the default setting
2025-11-27 14:00 - 15:00 UTC
You’ll hear from Microlink expert Barry Croniken, Head of R&D in addition to special guest Chris Holloway, Head of Accessibility at Recite Me. These brilliant panellists, each an experienced leader in the field, will share personal and practical insights, real-world examples, and actionable strategies for creating truly accessible digital spaces. This is a unique chance to hear:

Why digital accessibility is not just a legal requirement but a business imperative
Some of the main dos and don’ts of accessible design across web, mobile, and documents
How collaboration, not competition, drives better accessibility outcomes
Why transparency is key to building trust and accountability in digital accessibility efforts

Register -Register to our DWP webinar

The Inclusive Season: Making Festivities Meaningful in the Workplace and Beyond
2025-12-04 08:00 - 13:00 (Europe/London) | Zoom, United Kingdom
Join us for an insightful webinar that shines a light on the challenges neurodivergent individuals may experience during the festive season. Discover practical tips and inclusive strategies to create a supportive environment where everyone feels valued – at work and beyond.

Confidently Supporting Neurodivergent Talent: A Practical Guide for HR & Leaders
2026-01-15 13:00 - 14:00 (Europe/London)
Join us for an insightful session designed to empower HR professionals and business leaders to confidently support neurodivergent employees. Discover how to build inclusive workplaces, unlock unique strengths and leave with actionable tools to foster a culture where everyone can thrive.

Missing Pieces: Supporting AI Developments in Your School Community
2026-02-04 12:30 - 13:30 (Europe/London)
Artificial Intelligence is reshaping education.
From personalised learning paths and adaptive assessments to real-time feedback, AI promises to transform classrooms into dynamic ecosystems tailored to every learner’s needs.
But with great potential comes even greater concerns.

Could over-reliance on AI erode human judgement?
Will built-in bias deepen inequalities instead of eliminating them?
How do we protect sensitive student data from misuse?
What happens when profit overshadows pedagogy?

This webinar explores the missing pieces in the AI puzzle for education:
✅ How to harness AI’s benefits without compromising ethics
✅ Building transparent governance and safeguarding privacy
✅ Keeping human values at the heart of innovation
We are delighted to welcome David Curran, a nationally-recognised AI-SEND expert practitioner, to reflect on the present, and future, of AI in education.

Inclusion starts at the top – Securing Executive Buy-In for Inclusion
2026-02-05 13:00 - 14:00 (Europe/London)
Most organisations start bottom up with inclusion, not realising that there are more impactful ways to drive positive outcomes such as increased wellbeing and retention. In this session, our Consulting Business Psychologist Abigail Tennant will help you identify practical solutions to ensure executive buy in for inclusion.
Abigail will share:

The barriers we often see in the workplace when it comes to creating effective inclusive workplace
What small actions can be done to show effectiveness of adjustments and support
How to have effective conversations about adjustments and support
Guidance on ensuring policies and procedures are clear

This session is suitable for HR and people professionals, senior managers and those with a formal or informal role in disability and or DEI.
