Creating inclusive workplaces through innovative auditing technology

There are 14.6 million disabled people in the UK. Disabled people are almost twice as likely to be unemployed as non-disabled people. Many workplaces across the UK are not accessible to accommodate the needs of people who have a physical, cognitive or sensory disability including neurodiversity.

Most businesses aren't aware of what is required to design for employees with a wide range of needs including Autism, ADHD, anxiety, depression, dyslexia, dyspraxia and Tourette's as these inclusive design principles are not currently captured in building regulations. Technology is required to provide a source of information to understand the challenges in current workplaces and plan how to design more accessible and inclusive spaces for everyone.

Employers are also struggling to attract and retain the best talent and if offices can be designed to be more accessible, it will help unlock a new talent pool, bringing new skills and diversity to the workplace.

Motionspot plans to develop innovative technology to help businesses evaluate their buildings against a set of inclusive design principles that exceed the minimum standards set out in building regulations and empower employers to understand the challenges in their buildings for disabled people. The technology will also provide recommendations on the changes required to spaces to make them more accessible.

The technology will be developed and piloted in a workplace over 100,000sqf and learnings will be taken to further improve the technology before it is launched to the industry.

After successful adoption of this technology in workplaces, there is the opportunity to expand this innovation to other sectors including hospitality, retail, housing and healthcare. Data generated from the project can also be shared with Government departments to help shape new standards and future regulations.

This technology has the potential to positively impact the lives of hundreds of thousands of disabled people and help create more diverse, equitable, inclusive and successful workplaces.