Seeing the Unseen: How E.ON UK’s ‘OffCentre’ Sparks Empathy — and Unlocks Opportunity

Imagine stepping into someone else’s shoes so that you not only try to feel their challenges – but begin to understand how those unseen barriers shape opportunity. That’s exactly what E.ON’s The OffCentre experience achieves, and why we at The Purpose Coalition couldn’t be more inspired. 

Earlier this year, E.ON unveiled The OffCentre, an immersive journey devised by its internal disability inclusion network, adaptABILITY. This isn't your typical awareness session – it’s a deeply sensory, emotionally grounded exploration of invisible disabilities. Participants engage in simulations like sensory‑overload headsets, goggles that blur or tunnel vision, weighted and heated vests, and even breathing through narrow straws. These moments bring to life the often-overlooked realities of chronic pain, neurological conditions, fatigue, and temperature regulation difficulties. 

But there's more than gadgets here. Real first-person stories from E.ON colleagues living with disabilities are the beating heart of the experience, ensuring it’s not just seen – but felt. 

Why does this matter? Because inclusion is not a policy to be ticked off – it’s culture that needs building. E.ON’s adaptABILITY network and The OffCentre illustrate this brilliantly. Engagement with lived experience has catalysed workplace shifts – from empathy to action. In the UK, national data shows nearly one in four working‑age adults – approximately 23% – identify as disabled, yet their employment rate lags significantly. In Q2 of 2024, just 53.1% were in work, compared to 81.6% of non-disabled people – a staggering employment gap of 28.5 percentage points. That gap is not just a number – it represents millions of untapped talents. While employment of disabled people has risen over recent years, the economic inactivity rate remains high – 43.0%, versus 15.3% for non-disabled people. Meanwhile, disabled workers earn less – median hourly pay in 2023 showed disabled employees receiving £13.69, while non-disabled earned £15.69 – reflecting a pay gap of 12.7%. 

The OffCentre interrupts that inertia. It infuses empathy into corporate culture, elevating understanding and transforming inclusion from policy to practice. It flips awareness into action. We recognise that social mobility and inclusion are two sides of the same coin. Empathy-driven inclusion – like what The OffCentre offers – can strip away unseen barriers that often trap people from less privileged backgrounds. 

Rt Hon Justine Greening, Chair of The Purpose Coalition and former Secretary of State for Education, said: “E.ON’s ‘The OffCentre’ experience demonstrates that true inclusion is inseparable from social mobility. By helping colleagues experience the hidden challenges of disability, E.ON removes empathy barriers that also perpetuate inequality of opportunity. This immersive approach not only enriches workplace culture – it opens up pathways for every individual to thrive, regardless of their background or unseen realities.” 

Danny Davis, Director at The Purpose Coalition, witnessed one of the sessions first hand and added: “Inclusion matters because empathy is action. I’ve seen how bringing hidden experiences to light – whether through The OffCentre or meaningful dialogue –catalyses change. When organisations realise unseen challenges affect opportunity, social mobility ceases to be an abstract ambition – it becomes tangible progress. The OffCentre is empathy in action; it helps build workplaces – and a society – where everyone can move forward together.” 

E.ON plans to extend The OffCentre to more sites later this year, expanding its capacity to spark empathy, dismantle stigma, and build real accessibility across their organisation. 

Through this immersive journey, we’re reminded that empathy is not just awareness—but a catalyst. When we feel the invisible, we can remove it—and in doing so, open the door to opportunity for everyone.” 

Inclusion and the energy transition 

As one of the UK’s leading energy providers, E.ON is dedicated to building an inclusive clean energy future – a future that works for everyone, regardless of background or ability. Initiatives like The OffCentre bring this vision to life, proving that sustainability and equality must move forward together. 

You can learn more about E.ON’s commitments to accessibility and inclusion, here.