From bin lorry to boardroom: Northamptonshire man’s journey to national award winner and Westminster advocate
Under the Binman 2 Boardroom initiative Gavin travels to Westminster and local schools to press for early recognition of different thinking styles
A Northamptonshire man who once left school with no qualifications has become a prominent advocate for neurodivergent talent while advising local firms on efficiency and AI.
Gavin Simpson, who worked as a refuse collector before retraining, was named CIMA Student of the Year 2024 and is now a Chartered Management Accountant, TEDx speaker and author.
“He describes his career as ‘squiggly’, but it’s producing measurable gains for businesses,” the spokesperson added, saying Simpson’s consultancy, Neuvantage Business Services, has “saved UK businesses over £14 million.”
Under the Binman 2 Boardroom initiative Gavin travels to Westminster and local schools to press for early recognition of different thinking styles. A spokesperson said he aims to prevent the lifelong “feeling of failure” he experienced and to help managers better support diverse staff.
Gavin offers a bold guarantee: if his work does not save a client more than his fee, “we won’t invoice them,” the spokesperson confirmed. He also urges firms to place neurodiversity on their risk registers to future-proof workforces amid technological change.
Simpson continues to consult as a fractional FD and to promote his message to pupils and business leaders across the county; details and contact information are available on his website and LinkedIn, the spokesperson noted.
For local business owners looking to streamline their operations or schools interested in Gavin’s advocacy work, he can be reached via his website or his "One Pager" featured on his LinkedIn profile, where he is currently followed by a growing community of nearly 4,000 supporters.