Empowering neurodivergent talent with Microsoft 365 Copilot at Capita

I feel passionately, as a Director of a large division, about my responsibility to ensure a level playing field for my team, where everyone has the opportunity to thrive and to enjoy their role. Which is why I’m incredibly proud to work for a business that feels the same – at Capita we pride ourselves on living our responsible business values.

As a business, we’re also passionate about technology, particularly about unlocking the transformative potential of Generative AI. So it was only natural that we embraced the introduction of Microsoft 365’s Gen AI tool, Copilot, in collaboration with our hyperscaler partner, Microsoft.

Embedded within the apps we use every day, it really has been groundbreaking in helping us all to be more productive. But where we’ve noticed a particularly impressive impact is in how it supports our neurodivergent colleagues in their daily work lives.

Challenges faced by neurodivergent colleagues

People with neurodivergent conditions often encounter unique challenges in carrying out their everyday roles, such as difficulties with task management, organisation, and maintaining focus. For instance, individuals with ADHD may struggle with staying organised and on track, while those with dyslexia might find drafting emails and managing large texts particularly challenging.

It’s also worth bearing in mind that there can be a learning curve associated with integrating new tools into any workflow, which for our neurodivergent colleagues can initially add to their cognitive load. We focused on making sure we understood those challenges from the start, so that colleagues could feel confident they were being given the time and headspace to become familiar with those tools without judgement or discrimination.

Enhanced user experience

One of the standout benefits of M365 Copilot is how it enhances the experience of people using it. At Capita, colleagues from various departments, including sales, bid management and HR, have all reported that M365 Copilot's intuitive interface and personalised assistance have made it easier to navigate complex tasks.

As one neurodivergent participant explained: "It’s so easy to use which, along with personalised prompts and reminders, has made it much easier for me to manage even complicated projects and workflows. This, in turn, has been helping to reduce my cognitive load".

Increased productivity – by an incredible 30%

Productivity is a key focus for any organisation - that’s certainly the case for us at a time of strategic transformation. M365 Copilot has proven to be a valuable tool for our business in this regard. According to our operational impact assessment, our teams have experienced a noticeable increase in productivity: "Using M365 Copilot for specific, strategic tasks has saved me approximately 30% of my time, allowing me to focus on more critical aspects of my role", shared one colleague.

Improved accessibility and support for neurodivergent colleagues

Accessibility is at the heart of the roll-out which is why we were particularly interested to understand how the tool impacts processes and tasks. One colleague called the accessibility features a ‘game-changer’, saying that the voice commands and screen reader compatibility made their work much more manageable.

And the feedback from our neurodivergent community has been overwhelmingly positive: “As someone with ADHD, the reminders and task management features have been great for helping me stay organised and on track. They’re incredibly helpful".

A colleague with dyslexia added: "(M365) Copilot has significantly improved my work efficiency by automating tasks like summarising meetings, as well as creating job specs and action lists, all of which have reduced my work-related anxiety.”

We’re also hearing that M365 Copilot has had a positive impact on users' mental health and work-life balance: colleagues with neurodivergent conditions say it’s reduced the need for overtime and enabled them to schedule breaks, something which had previously been challenging. They say that it’s boosted their confidence because they’re better able to complete tasks which had always been a struggle before.

This is what I mean when I describe M365 Copilot as ‘ground-breaking’. In today's fast-paced work environment, making sure that we’re prioritising accessibility and inclusivity is more important than ever and I’m delighted that we’ve been able to make a difference: relieving some of the burdens faced by neurodivergent colleagues means we’re helping to equalise the workplace a little, ensuring that everyone has the tools they need to succeed.