Who is this engagement training for?

People working in engagement, consultation, communications, digital, insight and participation roles across public sector, charities and VCSE organisations.

Do you offer online or in-person training?

Yes, all courses can be delivered online or in-person, with blended options available.

Can we customise the training for our organisation?

Absolutely. We regularly adapt courses and design bespoke programmes for teams.

Do you offer accessibility-focused training that meets WCAG?

Yes. Our Accessibility and Inclusion modules cover accessible Word documents, PDFs, forms and digital content, all aligned with WCAG and legal requirements.

Do you provide AI training for engagement teams?

Yes. Our AI for Engagement courses cover prompting, safe use, data protection, and applying AI to engagement analysis.

HOUSE RULES FOR ACCESSIBLE WORD DOCUMENTS

LEARN HOW TO BUILD ACCESSIBLE DOCUMENTS FROM THE GROUND UP

What this course is about

A practical, hands‑on session that teaches you how to create accessible Word documents using a simple house‑building metaphor. You’ll learn how to structure documents properly, fix common issues, and produce Word files and PDFs that work for everyone — including people using screen readers.

Event dates

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Duration

3 hours

Delivery

Online or in-house

Numbers

Maximum of 15

Trainer

Rachel or Alexia

A simple, memorable metaphor
We use a house‑building metaphor to show you how accessible documents are constructed — from foundations to finishing touches — so you understand not just what to do, but why it matters.
Hands‑on, practical learning
You’ll work through a live demo of fixing a “bad document”, learning how to apply headings, styles, tables, links, images and colours correctly using Word’s built‑in tools.
Real‑world accessibility practice
We focus on the issues that actually appear in public‑sector documents: inconsistent formatting, inaccessible tables, missing alt text, poor link labelling, colour contrast problems and PDF conversion mistakes.
Built for busy teams
Everything you learn can be applied immediately to your own work — reports, briefings, consultation documents, newsletters, forms and more.
Optional add on: accessible writing
If needed, we can extend the session to cover accessible writing principles, including plain language, structure, readability and inclusive communication.
Flexible delivery
Delivered in person or online, in a 3 hours session, for up to 15 participants — led by Rachel or Alexia.

Confident use of Word’s accessibility tools
You’ll know how to apply accessible document principles using Word’s built‑in features.
Screen‑reader‑friendly structure
You’ll be able to create headings, tables, links and images that work properly with assistive technology.
Accessible PDF conversion
You’ll understand how to convert Word documents into accessible PDFs without losing structure.
Ability to fix common issues
You’ll know how to spot and correct the accessibility problems that appear most often in public‑sector documents.
WCAG‑aligned practice
You’ll understand the basics of WCAG compliance and how it applies to everyday document production.

What people say

“Small changes can significantly improve usability for people using assistive technologies.”
“No matter your understanding… the fundamentals are explained in a clear way and then built on.”
“It was very helpful and would be of benefit to everyone, from those with zero knowledge of accessibility to those with some knowledge.”
“This training should be mandatory for everyone who creates documents or provides content to go into documents.”
“I found it very useful to think about reading age… and to hear first hand how things sound on a screen reader.”
“It’s probably one of the most useful training sessions I’ve done because there are so many simple, practical takeaways.”

What you'll learn

By the end of this course, participants will be able to:

Apply accessible document principles using Word’s built‑in tools
Create headings, tables, links and images that work with screen readers
Convert Word documents to accessible PDFs
Spot and fix common accessibility issues in existing documents
Understand the basics of WCAG compliance in practice

Who this course is for

Communications and engagement professionals
Policy writers, analysts and report authors
Anyone producing Word documents or PDFs for internal or external audiences
Teams looking to improve digital accessibility and compliance with WCAG

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What is this training about?

A practical session that shows you how to create accessible Word documents using headings, styles, tables, images, links and PDF best practice.

Do I need any prior accessibility knowledge?

No. The session is designed for anyone who produces Word documents or PDFs, regardless of experience.

Will I learn how to fix existing documents?

Yes — you’ll watch a live demo of repairing a “bad document” and learn how to apply the same techniques to your own work.

Does the training cover accessible PDFs?

Yes — you’ll learn how to convert Word documents into accessible PDFs without losing structure or metadata. But we run a detailed course to learn how to create an accessible PDF from scratch.

Is this suitable for public sector teams?

Absolutely. The session is built around the real accessibility issues found in NHS, council and policing documents.

Can the training be delivered online or tailored to us?

Yes — it can be delivered in person or online, and we can tailor examples and exercises to your organisation’s needs.

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Get in touch

If you don’t see exactly what you’re looking for here, we also design bespoke training courses and tailored packages to meet your organisation’s specific needs. With broad experience across communications, marketing and engagement, we can create practical, relevant learning shaped around your goals, team and challenges.

Get in touch to discuss your requirements or book a 30-minute introductory conversation.

Get in touch