Tag Archive for: Case studies (talks)

Partnering with Perrywood Garden Centres

The challenge

Perrywood Garden Centres sought to enhance the confidence and capabilities of their management team in supporting neurodivergent colleagues. As a growing business with a strong focus on people and community, they recognised the importance of inclusive communication and meaningful support, particularly in a fast-paced, customer-facing environment.

Their goal was clear: to equip managers with the understanding and practical skills to hold better conversations with neurodivergent staff, creating a workplace where everyone feels heard, supported, and able to perform at their best.

What we found

Our initial conversations showed that Perrywood’s leaders already had a strong foundation of empathy and care. However, as in many organisations, managers wanted greater clarity and confidence in how to translate this into everyday practice, especially when it came to discussing neurodiversity or individual support needs.

We also found that while some successful strategies were already being used in parts of the business, they had not yet been consistently shared across teams. There was a clear opportunity to bring people together to reflect, learn, and exchange ideas.

What we did

We designed and delivered a two-part training programme for two cohorts of Perrywood managers.
The first session focused on building awareness and understanding, exploring what neurodiversity means in practice and how to hold supportive, constructive conversations with team members. The second session was a practical workshop, providing managers with the opportunity to apply their learning, share experiences, and reflect on what was working well and where challenges persisted.

Each session provided space for open discussion, enabling participants to learn from one another while developing concrete strategies for use in their day-to-day management.

The results

The sessions prompted rich reflection and insight across both cohorts. Managers identified common challenges, surfaced practical ideas, and shared examples of strategies that had worked effectively in other areas of the organisation.

By creating a space for honest discussion and shared learning, Perrywood strengthened its collective understanding of how to support neurodivergent colleagues and fostered a more confident, connected management team. The programme laid the groundwork for continued conversation and collaboration around inclusion across the business.

Supporting lifestyle and personal development coaches in elite sport

The challenge

Practitioners supporting elite athletes face a unique challenge: how to help individuals maintain balanced lifestyles while navigating the demands of competitive sport, and the often difficult transition out of it. Increasingly, coaches and development practitioners were noticing signs of neurodivergent traits among the athletes they supported, but many lacked the confidence, knowledge, or clarity to respond effectively.

What we found

There was a clear appetite among practitioners to better understand how neurodivergence shows up in high-performance environments. They wanted practical insight into how traits such as ADHD or autism might affect focus, transitions, lifestyle decisions, and well-being. More importantly, they needed support in adapting their conversations and coaching relationships to be more inclusive and effective.

What we did

At the invitation of Liz Egan, who leads the International Lifestyle and Personal Development Practitioners’ Forum, Nathan Whitbread delivered a tailored session for coaches and practitioners working at the intersection of performance and wellbeing. The session was designed to be both informative and conversational, encouraging reflection and discussion alongside practical learning.

Rather than offering generic advice, we focused on the realities of supporting neurodivergent individuals through periods of change, identity shifts, and high cognitive load. Nathan introduced neurodiversity-informed concepts grounded in sport-specific contexts, offering real-world strategies for building stronger, more responsive relationships.

The results

Feedback from the session was deeply affirming. Participants appreciated the balance of insight and action, and left with practical tools they could use immediately in their work. Liz Egan shared the following testimonial:

“Nathan delivered a session this morning for the International Lifestyle and Personal Development Practitioners’ Forum, a group that I run for people working in sport. The session was informative and thought-provoking. Nathan took care to ensure that the session was pitched at the right level and relevant for the attendees. We all left with ideas on how we can make simple adjustments to the way in which we work to have a profound impact on those we support. I would highly recommend Nathan and the work he does. Thank you.

The session demonstrated the power of small shifts in awareness and approach, particularly in environments where performance and well-being must go hand in hand.

Partnering with Animas Centre for coaching

The challenge

Animas Centre for Coaching approached us with a clear ambition: to equip their coaches with a deeper understanding of how to work confidently and effectively with neurodivergent clients. They aimed to ensure coaches could build meaningful partnerships with neurodivergent individuals and leaders, while remaining aware of the broader organisational and societal contexts that shape client experiences.

What we found

Our initial conversations revealed that coaches were eager to better support neurodivergent clients but needed more confidence and clarity around how to do so. While they already possessed strong foundational skills, many were unsure how to apply these effectively when working with neurodivergent individuals. There was also a clear need for practical strategies, alongside space to reflect and explore this topic without fear of getting it wrong.

What we did

We designed and delivered a series of training sessions as part of Animas’s professional development programme. These focused on exploring coaching principles—such as partnership, listening, and contracting—through a neurodiversity-informed lens. We aimed to help coaches recognise what they already did well, while giving them the tools to stretch and adapt their practice.

As the programme evolved, our role expanded. We were invited to deliver further sessions focused on ADHD, autistic traits, and other neurodivergent presentations. These offered practical techniques coaches could apply immediately. We also introduced content on coaching neurodivergent couples, supporting practitioners to navigate the dynamic between two different processing styles within a single coaching relationship.

The results

The response was overwhelmingly positive. Coaches consistently highlighted Nathan Whitbread’s sessions as among the most valuable in the entire programme. The training was described as insightful, thought-provoking, and immediately applicable. Feedback showed that the sessions provided a rare combination of psychological safety, challenge, and clarity, deepening participants’ understanding of neurodivergence and boosting their confidence in working with complexity and difference.