The Southampton International Boat Show is one of the biggest events in the UK marine calendar. This year it ran for ten days, from 18 to 27 September 2026, at Mayflower Park, and our founder Daniel Smith was invited to speak on a panel during the show.
It was a chance to talk about neurodiversity with a wider audience than usual. Alongside seafarers and people from across the marine industry, the show draws boat owners, yacht crew, sailors and families, many of whom will know someone who is neurodivergent, or are neurodivergent themselves.
What we talked about
The panel looked at what neurodiversity is and what it means to be neurodivergent in the marine world, both at sea and in the businesses that support it ashore. Daniel spoke about the barriers neurodivergent people still face, including recruitment processes, training and exams that don’t suit every way of thinking, and workplaces where people don’t feel safe to say they are neurodivergent.
He also spoke about the strengths neurodivergent people bring, and how employers, clubs and training providers can make the most of that talent with small, practical changes. The session finished with questions from the audience.
Find out more
Whether you’re a seafarer, yacht crew, an employer or simply curious, our website is a good place to start. You can find support for neurodivergent seafarers, learn how to support a crewmate, or see how we help maritime organisations.
