Neuroinclusive Networking Guide
Networking is Not working
The Neuroinclusive Networking guide is evidence-based, following a research study conducted throughout 2025/6. We surveyed event professionals, attendees to build a guide that was based on lived experience and practical realities.
20% of the population is neurodivergent; traditional networking automatically excludes a significant section of the population.
Neuroinclusion matters
Our Networking Survey explored how event professionals and attendees feel about networking. This guide translates those findings into practical, evidence-based recommendations.
Research-based findings
This Neuroinclusive Networking Guide, developed by Welcome Brain Consulting, ABPCO, and EICC, provides clear, accessible steps to help event organisers make networking inclusive for all.
Practical guidance
How It Works:
Three Tiers
Choose Silver, Gold, or Platinum based on your event’s capacity and resources. Self-certify your event using the guide.
Promote your efforts!
Fully completing a tier will allow you to market your event as neuroinclusive (e.g. “Gold-Level Neuroinclusive Networking”).Once you have completed a tier, email info@welcomebrain.com, and get digital materials to help you promote your networking event.
Need a hard copy?
Download our networking guide in a printable PDF format.
Neuroinclusive Networking Guide
How to Use this Guide
Like the Neurodiversity in Events Checklist or the Neuroinclusive Venue Accreditation, the Neuroinclusive Networking Guide is divided into three tiers - Silver, Gold, and Platinum. Whatever the size of your networking event, its budget, or the location, you can make the changes in this guide and make networking more accessible for all attendees.
Events that successfully implement all criteria within a tier may identify themselves as a ‘Welcome Brain Silver/Gold/Platinum Neuroinclusive Networking Event.’
Certification is self-assessed and intended to reflect genuine, thoughtful implementation of the standards within each tier. Organisations should ensure that all measures have been meaningfully applied in practice before using the designation.
If you would like a digital badge to support promotion of your event, please Contact Us.
Silver Level
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Offer at least one structured small-group option (roundtables, topic tables) alongside open mingling - don’t make unstructured networking the only option.
Give clear, simple instructions for any group activity: time limit, speaking order, and whether a group representative is required to present to the wider group.
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Turn off background music in networking and catering areas.
Where possible, choose a space that has natural light, and avoid bright and/or flashing lights.
Attempt to maintain a comfortable temperature in the room - remembering that rooms full of people can heat up significantly.
Manage the room for space and crowding - cap numbers, spread out food and drink, and create flow so the space never feels packed.
Make sure seats are available, so attending doesn’t mean standing the whole time.
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Share a clear agenda and expectations for the session in advance - format, length, and what to expect.
Rethink what you call your session. Name the session by format or purpose (‘roundtable conversations’ , ‘topic tables’ , ‘walk and talk’), or use ‘connecting’ rather than ‘networking’ to set clearer, lower-pressure expectations.
State explicitly that there is no pressure to network, and that arriving, leaving, or stepping out at any point is fine.
Put conversation starters or prompts on tables.
Tell attendees where the nearest quiet space is, and that they can access it with no explanation required.
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Brief a named person to watch for anyone standing alone and make informal introductions. Aim to check in with anyone standing alone with no one to talk to
Gold Level
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Everything in Silver Level, plus:
Offer pre-arranged 1:1 meetings or a ‘buddy’ option for those who want them.
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Everything in Silver Level, plus:
Designate and signpost a genuine quiet or breakout space away from the main networking area.
Adjust lighting and choose calmer rooms - avoid harsh or neon lighting, and favour spaces with sound absorbing surfaces.
Make food and drink easy to access without queuing or balancing a plate while talking.
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Everything at Silver Level, plus:
Use name badges that carry more than a name - interests, job title, or a topic the wearer is happy to talk about. If possible, allow delegates to bring their own lanyards as a conversation starter.
Provide an attendee or delegate list in advance where possible (containing key information such as job role, organisation, field of interest), so people can plan who to approach or talk to.
Provide an interaction-preference system (for example opt-in badge colours or lanyards: happy to be approached/prefer to start conversations/not networking right now) - available to everyone.
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Everything in Silver Level, plus:
Provide facilitated introductions or ‘connection hosts’ whose job it is to welcome people in and connect them.
Brief and prepare hosts properly, so they are actively including people - and are aware on how best to provide support for neurodivergent attendees who may need it.
Platinum Level
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Everything in in Silver and Gold Levels, plus:
Run a separate, lower-pressure alternative event alongside the main networking — a walking meeting, shared activity, tour, or volunteer task — so people who find full-on networking overwhelming or alienating have a real option.
Offer an online or hybrid networking option for those who can’t or don’t want to attend in person.
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Everything in Silver and Gold Levels, plus:
Run modular networking zones at different sensory levels — for example a lively, high-energy social zone, a calm low-stimulation zone, and a structured-activity zone - so people can choose the setting that suits them.
If possible, as well as a dedicated ‘networking’ event, run a continuous, drop-in side-by-side activity space (such as craft activities) that people can use any time throughout the event, with no pressure to make eye-contact or conversation
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Everything in Silver and Gold Levels, plus:
Capture networking-specific feedback (sensory environment, format, and whether people felt able to connect) and publish or share a short post-event summary, feeding it into the next event.
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Everything in the Silver and Gold Levels, plus:
Co-design your networking format with neurodivergent attendees or advisory input, rather than designing for neurodivergent people.
Provide professionally facilitated structured networking throughout the event — not just a one-off icebreaker — with trained facilitators.
Train staff as neuroinclusion champions or First Responders, positioned at networking touchpoints.
Need a hard copy?
Download our networking guide in a printable PDF format.
Ready to make your events neuroinclusive?
Welcome Brain is here to help. Get in touch to learn more about consulting and CPD-certified training for event teams.