More than 50 business professionals gathered in Central Milton Keynes this week as The City Breakfast Club, Milton Keynes returned with its first event since the summer.
The networking group, now hosted by Mercer & Hole following MHA’s handover earlier this year, met at YMCA Milton Keynes. The club, the city’s longest-running business breakfast event, is known for bringing together organisations from across the region for networking and insight.
Guest speaker Sarah Sweet-Rowley, from Autism Early Support, gave a powerful talk on the challenges faced by families with neurodivergent children, particularly at the start of the school year. She highlighted how factors such as new uniforms and unfamiliar surroundings can be overwhelming, not only for the children but also for parents balancing family responsibilities with work commitments.
Sarah shared data showing the impact on working parents, including:
-
39% of employees have neurodivergent children, with 26% saying it affects their ability to commit to work daily.
-
92% of employed fathers and 75% of employed mothers have dependent children.
-
Half of neurodivergent professionals have children with, or awaiting, a neurodivergent diagnosis.
-
By 2040, more than 40% of the global workforce is expected to identify as neurodivergent (Everway, 2024).
She urged employers to adopt greater flexibility and understanding to support staff managing both work and family responsibilities.
Business MK, a sponsor of The City Breakfast Club, Milton Keynes, said the event underlined the strength of the city’s business community. “September has that back-to-school energy, and today’s City Breakfast Club set the tone perfectly for the months ahead. It wasn’t just about making connections, but also about broadening our understanding of the challenges that many in our workforce face.”
The next City Breakfast Club, Milton Keynes takes place on Wednesday 2 October at YMCA Milton Keynes. More details and bookings are available at www.citybreakfastclub.co.uk.
