Business values

AdaptNI is a specialist employment and training provider based in Belfast. The organisation supports people throughout Northern Ireland who are deaf, have hearing loss or tinnitus. Through tailored, person‑centred employment and skills services, AdaptNI works to remove barriers and help individuals reach their full potential.

Co-founder Laura Murphy-Sloan shares how AdaptNI established strong company values that promote diversity, equality and inclusion across the workplace.

Building our values

"When AdaptNI was founded, my co-founder Alex Leslie and I worked closely with an advisory group made up of people with lived experience of deafness, hearing loss and tinnitus. Together we developed a clear set of company values that reflected real needs and priorities within these communities."

"This collaborative process created a deep sense of shared ownership from the very beginning. It ensured that AdaptNI’s values were not abstract statements, but practical principles guiding every aspect of our work as the organisation grew."

Embedding values into our workplace culture

"AdaptNI’s workplace culture is built around accessibility, respect, and shared responsibility. These values influence how staff work together, deliver services, and engage with external partners."

"To maintain consistency, our values are built into staff inductions and reinforced through ongoing training. At team meetings, we encourage staff to reflect on how the values link to their roles and objectives. By using accessible communication across the organisation and displaying our values clearly on our website and corporate materials, we demonstrate our commitment in a practical, visible way."

The benefits of developing clear company values

"Defining clear values has delivered real business benefits. Employees report improved wellbeing, stronger communication, and greater unity. Many team members have personal experience of hearing loss or tinnitus, which deepens understanding and strengthens our service delivery."

"From a competitive perspective, our values and specialist expertise set us apart. AdaptNI is the only organisation in Northern Ireland offering dedicated specialist employment and training support for deaf, hearing loss and tinnitus communities – delivered by a team that includes deaf staff, tinnitus advisers, a notetaker and professionals trained in sign language."

How our values promote workplace diversity, equality and inclusion

"Our values drive our commitment to diversity, equality and inclusion and are embedded in our strategy, mission and vision. This strengthens credibility, builds trust and provides a strong foundation for partnerships, contracts and programme delivery."

"We ensure diversity, equality and inclusion remain central to our organisation by delivering services aligned with equality legislation and the Northern Ireland Sign Language Bill 2025. Our recruitment processes enable us to seek candidates with lived experience of disability. Through ongoing learning and development, we help staff reach a competent level in sign language. We use accessible communication methods - including note‑taking and visual tools - and we provide deaf‑led input and specialist support where needed."

"Our commitment to workplace diversity, equality and inclusion has been widely recognised. AdaptNI won the Best Diversity, Equality and Inclusion SME Business category at the Irish News Workplace and Employment Awards 2025. This award recognises and celebrates our leadership in accessible and culturally informed employment support. We continue to receive strong positive feedback from individuals, employers and community partners, reinforcing the impact of our approach."

Lessons we have learned when developing company values

"We have learned that values only create impact when they are actively lived. We continually revisit and refine our values to ensure they remain relevant and meaningful. Staff input is central to this process, and future plans include involving external stakeholders - including clients and employers - to align our values even more closely with community needs."