For anyone not familiar, Retrofit West is a Community Interest Company working across the West of England to help homeowners make their homes more energy-efficient. Funded by the West of England Mayoral Combined Authority, they provide independent advice and hands-on support for domestic retrofit projects, helping people plan, design, and deliver more sustainable improvements at home (retrofitwest.co.uk).

Before the session, we met with Laura, Retrofit West’s Head of Marketing, who shared her excitement about the training and the positive impact it could have, not just within the team, but also in how they engage with their customers.

During the session, we unpacked what neurodiversity really means, covering conditions such as ADHD, Autism, Dyslexia, and Dyspraxia. We focused on moving beyond stereotypes and emphasised the value neurodivergent individuals bring to the workplace. There was great discussion around shifting perspectives, busting common myths, and embracing practical strategies for creating more supportive, accessible environments.

We also covered key UK workforce stats, the importance of reasonable adjustments, and the idea that every organisation is on its own inclusion journey. As Lucy puts it so well, it’s about meeting people at their bus stop.

One of the most encouraging moments was hearing the team reflect on tangible changes they could make; updating their website, and adapting customer surveys and processes around home visits to be more accessible, an exciting and proactive step forward.

A huge thank you to the Retrofit West team for their engagement, openness, and thoughtful contributions. This is what Laura Barber, Head of Marketing, Retrofit West had to say about the training: 

"We're incredibly grateful to Lucy and the team for delivering such an engaging and thought-provoking session. As a small CIC that values inclusion and accessibility, it was empowering to explore how neurodiversity shows up in both our team and our customer base. The practical advice shared has already sparked meaningful conversations and tangible actions, from improving our communications to rethinking how we deliver support. This was an important step in our journey to becoming more inclusive, and we're excited to keep learning."

If you're curious about our Start the Conversation sessions and how they might support your team, get in touch, we’d love to hear from you.

We’ve got some exciting projects coming up over the next month, so keep an eye out for updates!