NatWest Gold Certified Event

A landmark moment in inclusive event design—NatWest’s Audit Academy became the first event to achieve Gold Certification for Neuroinclusion, thanks to a powerful partnership with EICC and the practical toolkit launched by Welcome Brain.

1. Overview

On 21 May 2025 Audit Academy, hosted by NatWest at the Edinburgh International Conference Centre (EICC), brought together colleagues from across the business for a day of learning, collaboration, and professional development.

This year marked a historic milestone: the Audit Academy became the first event to achieve Gold Certification for Neuroinclusion, using the Neurodiversity in Events Checklist developed by Welcome Brain Consulting, in association with the Association of British Professional Conference Organisers (ABPCO), and EICC.

As it was their second year hosting the event at the EICC, the NatWest team was eager to evolve the atmosphere and impact, making neuroinclusion a central theme in shaping a more empathetic and forward-thinking workplace culture.

2. Why Neuroinclusion?

NatWest’s decision to pursue Gold Certification was driven by a desire to bring their inclusion values to life in a tangible and visible way. Inspired by conversations with the EICC team and a growing awareness of the barriers neurodivergent individuals can face at professional events, the project team saw an opportunity to take meaningful action. The work of Welcome Brain Consulting—whose advocacy for neuroinclusion has helped shape industry-wide standards—provided both motivation and momentum.

The release of the Neurodiversity in Events Checklist by Welcome Brain in February 2025 gave NatWest a clear, practical toolkit to follow. With EICC’s support and a framework to guide them, the team felt empowered to pursue Gold Certification and embed inclusion into every aspect of the event.

Recognising neuroinclusion as a way to “drive innovation, strengthen team collaboration, and enhance employee satisfaction,” NatWest aimed to evolve the event’s culture and impact.

The EICC played a central role as a supportive venue partner, providing flexible space and embracing new approaches to inclusive design.

Welcome Brain Consulting worked closely with the NatWest project team throughout the planning and delivery process, offering structured guidance and supporting the team to apply the checklist meaningfully and rigorously.

3. Checklist Achievements

Achieving Gold Certification meant meeting or exceeding standards in the checklist’s key areas: environment, communication, participation, sensory accessibility, and more.

The NatWest team highlighted the power of shifting their mindset:
“Rather than seeing inclusion as a separate task, it became a guiding principle—and that made it much easier to create an environment that felt genuinely inclusive for everyone.”

Customisation was key, with many solutions designed around NatWest’s specific audience and event format, while still upholding the checklist’s robust standards.

4. Standout Implementations

Catering

NatWest recognised that inclusive catering plays a key role in creating a welcoming environment, and took deliberate steps to ensure that food options were accessible, clearly labelled, and considerate of sensory needs.

• A variety of clearly labelled dietary options

• Consideration of texture, smell, and presentation

• Flexible mealtimes and quiet eating areas for reduced sensory stimulation

Sensory Spaces

Recognising the importance of sensory regulation for many attendees, the event incorporated thoughtfully designed quiet spaces to promote comfort, inclusion, and wellbeing.

• A dedicated Quiet Room created a breakthrough in accessibility, offering a supportive environment that enabled participation from individuals who had previously been excluded:
  “We had attendees join from this space who had never been able to attend a group event before due to health reasons.”

• An additional “Quietest Room” with even lower stimulation for full sensory decompression

• The spaces “offered a calm, welcoming environment where people supported one another and acknowledged each other’s individual needs and challenges.”

AI Captions & Tech Accessibility

Technology was used thoughtfully to enhance accessibility, with AI-powered speech-to-text captions supporting a more inclusive and cognitively accessible experience for all.

• Use of AI speech-to-text technology provided live, real-time captions

• This improved access for attendees with auditory processing differences and reduced cognitive load

Communication & Engagement

Clear, accessible communication was prioritised throughout the event to reduce cognitive load and ensure all attendees could engage in ways that suited them.

• A plain-language agenda was provided in advance

• Clear signage and instructions helped with navigation

• Attendees were offered multiple ways to participate, including anonymously or through post-event feedback

5. Interview: NatWest on Building a Neuroinclusive Event

What surprised you?
“One of the biggest surprises was just how much attention to detail is needed to create a truly inclusive environment.”
“Simple things—like clearly defining what ‘casual’ means in a dress code or creating space for someone to say, ‘I need a few minutes’—had a powerful impact.”

What was easier than expected?
“Once we began approaching the event through the lens of overall inclusion and accessibility, everything started to fall into place more naturally.”

What impact did you notice on attendee experience or engagement?
“By the end of the day, there was a genuine sense of community.”
“Attendees shared with me how much the space—and the inclusive thought behind it—meant to them. Many said it made a real difference to their experience and enjoyment of the event.”

Would you recommend certification to others?
“Absolutely! Pursuing this certification has not only strengthened the project team’s own skills and knowledge, but it has also had a positive ripple effect across our organisation.”
“It’s contributed to a more inclusive and thoughtful culture and has noticeably elevated the quality and impact of our annual Audit Academy event.”

6. Attendee Impact

Attendees offered rich reflections on how the event felt different—and better:

• “Many said it made a real difference to their experience and enjoyment of the event.”

• The Quiet Room fostered community and comfort: “People supported one another and acknowledged each other’s individual needs.”

• The inclusive environment helped individuals “who had never been able to attend a group event before” feel welcome and supported.

• Even those who didn’t personally need adjustments expressed “strong support for their inclusion.”

7. NatWest’s Event Feedback

• Attendance: 380 attendees

• Satisfaction scores: “99% of responses indicated a positive experience.”

• Feedback: “Attendees either directly benefited from the inclusive improvements or, while they didn’t personally need them, expressed strong support for their inclusion.”

• Organisational impact: “It’s contributed to a more inclusive and thoughtful culture.”
  

8. What This Means

This event was not just a milestone—it was a model. Achieving Gold Certification demonstrates that neuroinclusion is practical, impactful, and transformative.

“It reminded us that inclusion often lies in the details, and those details matter to far more people than we might have initially realised.”

NatWest has set a high bar—and issued an open invitation to other organisations to follow:

“I would highly recommend it to anyone looking to make meaningful improvements both personally and professionally.” - David White, Gold Certification Coordinator, NatWest Bank