Seeing the unseen: E.ON’s OffCentre experience brings everyday disability barriers to life

E.ON brought The OffCentre, its immersive disability awareness experience, to E.ON Next house in London this week, to help colleagues and guests better understand the barriers disabled people can face at work and in everyday life.

The need for greater understanding is clear. Government figures show the employment rate for disabled people is 53.1%, compared with 81.6% for non-disabled people. Business Disability Forum research also finds that only one in 10 disabled employees say it is easy to get the workplace adjustments they need, while one in eight are waiting more than a year.

Created by E.ON’s adaptABILITY colleague-led inclusion network, The OffCentre is designed to help people “see the unseen” by making non-visible and often misunderstood symptoms more tangible. When people better understand even a small part of what a colleague might be navigating, it can change how they think about how they can support, make adjustments for, and include someone in the most appropriate way.

Participants were invited to step into scenarios that reflected real experiences of disability, using tools such as sensory-overload headsets, visual impairment goggles and weighted or heated vests.

Central to the OffCentre experience were the people; three colleagues shared their lived experience of disability at work and beyond. Hearing their stories helped participants connect with the simulated elements. The aim was not to recreate anyone’s condition, but to build empathy, encourage more open conversations and prompt practical action.

Anthony Ainsworth – Chief Operating Officer of Industrial & Commercial business, npower Business Solutions, and board sponsor of E.ONs Adaptability and Neurodiversity Networks said:
“Creating a culture of belonging means looking beyond good intentions and asking what people actually need to succeed. The OffCentre challenges us to think differently, act with greater awareness and make sure inclusion is reflected in the everyday decisions we make.”

The event forms part of E.ON’s wider commitment to being an inclusive employer, creating a workplace where everyone feels supported, respected and able to thrive. By removing barriers and valuing different experiences, E.ON aims to enable everyone to play their part in the energy transition.

E.ON has been a Disability Confident Employer since 2017 and is a member of the Business Disability Forum. The energy supplier also works closely with Genius Within, a not-for-profit organisation that specialises in neurodiversity support for adults and the organisations that work with and employ them.

Professor Nancy Doyle from Genius Within said:

"E.ON has approached inclusion from the system level, investing in the knowledge and skills of its management team as the starting point. This is what we advise all businesses, as a reactive, firefighting approach places a heavy burden on neurodivergent and disabled employees and their supervisors. The proactive approach destigmatises disability. People are prepared and there is less anxiety. Rather than having to disclose when in difficulty, employees are simply supported to work at their best, more of the time, as part of everyday conversation and work allocation."

By turning statistics into lived experience, The OffCentre encouraged people to recognise barriers, challenge assumptions and help create more accessible and inclusive working environments.