As we kick off October 2024, I want to take a moment to highlight a condition that is often misunderstood yet immensely impactful: ADHD. With ADHD Awareness Month upon us, it’s an ideal time to recognise the significance of this condition and its implications for individuals and organisations alike.

I am personally committed to raising awareness of what the condition really means and why the world needs to challenge the stigmas associated with it. At consultancy, training, and technology business This is Milk, we believe in working towards inclusive workplaces. To us, this means celebrating uniqueness and fostering environments that allow everyone to flourish. I truly believe in accepting people’s struggles and shortcomings and allowing them to work to their strengths.

​As we approach 2025, the conversation around diversity and inclusion is poised to evolve in exciting new ways. Building on the momentum of 2024, where significant strides were made towards meaningful corporate DEI (Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion) initiatives, 2025 is set to be a year where these efforts deepen and become more integrated into the very fabric of organisational cultures. Here's a look at the trends we can expect to see in the coming year.

By Jennifer Gyan

Artificial Intelligence (AI) is revolutionising various sectors, and the training and consulting industry is no exception. By leveraging AI, businesses can optimise training programs, enhance consulting services, and drive more effective outcomes. We will be exploring the significant ways AI is impacting the training and consulting space in business.

By: Morgane Tanguy

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In the spirit of National Inclusion Week, we as UX designers play a vital role in making our designs, processes, and workplaces more inclusive. While discussions around inclusivity often revolve around design principles and company culture, one key aspect that deserves more attention is how we communicate and collaborate with people.
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Inclusive Communication with Users and Customers

​When we talk about inclusion, it’s crucial to remember that our users and customers are, above all, humans. Depending on the products and services we work on, some individuals may face challenges in expressing themselves, feeling comfortable or being confident during research activities. Here’s a simple but key principle to follow: Give them the time and space they need.


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Dyspraxia is a condition that affects around 10% of the British population, yet it’s still generally misunderstood. To mark Dyspraxia Week, we asked our founder and MD Angela Prentner-Smith a few questions about Dyspraxia, her diagnosis, and how it affects her life and work.   

When did you first notice you had Dyspraxic traits?  

As a child, I was labelled as clumsy. I was the kid that cried in gym class because I found it so hard. My nan used to say I was covered in bruises. Dyspraxia affects your gross motor skills, and your fine motor skills. Gross motor skills are things like running or playing ball. Fine motor skills are things like handwriting. So along with my general clumsiness, I also found handwriting incredibly difficult. Although I could read before I started school, my handwriting was about two years behind everybody else's. My handwriting is still not good. However, during my school years, nothing was picked up. I don’t think Dyspraxia was even a consideration when I was at school. Even now, how many parents would recognise Dyspraxia in their children? Raising awareness about the condition is a priority.   
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In today’s fast-paced, hyper connected and ever-changing business landscape, staying ahead of the competition is a challenge. That’s where Agile Project Management comes in as a game-changer for businesses that aim to thrive, adapt quickly to changes, and deliver outstanding products efficiently. If you’ve ever considered adopting Agile practices for your team but felt overwhelmed by the process, fear not say This is Milk, Agile coaching is your beacon of guidance to success.

​This is Milk’s Chief Technical Officer, Piotr Zieliński shares more in this article.
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By Newsdesk

THIS is Milk, the award-winning tech company successfully hosted their highly anticipated Milk Bar event last month. The event, held at Impact Arts in Glasgow city centre, centred around the theme of psychological safety in the workplace.

​This free event, open to all, aimed to provide attendees with valuable insights on fostering a psychologically safe environment where authenticity and inclusion thrive. Notably, the event raised £320 in support of the ADHD Foundation Neurodiversity Charity.

Psychological safety is a crucial element in cultivating a productive and inclusive workplace. It refers to the sense of safety employees experience when taking risks and sharing their ideas without fear of negative consequences. By prioritising psychological safety, organisations can surpass the mere goal of diversity and actively foster a culture where all individuals can flourish.

By Heather Suttie

Since the 2020 pandemic, Mynd Up state’s poor mental health has been on the rise. It’s now suggested that over 1 in 4 people will experience a mental health disorder each year in the UK.

But, while so many suffer, funding and mental health services are still limited, with long wait times and limited treatment options. The stigma around many mental health conditions remains and many can’t get the help they need.

Anxiety is the most common mental illness, affecting 40 million adults (19.1% of the population).
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Award-winning tech company This is Milk is committed to improving mental health in the workplace and the Glasgow-based business is running a series of the two-day Public Health Scotland accredited training course, Scottish Mental Health First Aid.

In our fast-paced lives, it's easy to get caught up in our own responsibilities and overlook the immense value of giving back to our communities. However, for two remarkable individuals in our organisation, volunteering has become a life-changing experience. Meet Piotr Zieliński, our Chief Technical Officer, and Leanne, our Communications and Communities Manager. They embody the true spirit of selflessness and dedication, and their volunteer work during National Volunteer Week serves as an inspiration for us all.

Piotr's Impactful Contributions:

While Leanne's journey demonstrates the transformative power of volunteering on a personal level, Piotr Zieliński, our Chief Technical Officer, showcases the impact one individual can have on charitable organisations through their expertise and dedication.

Piotr goes beyond his professional responsibilities, actively engaging with charitable organisations to support their digital transformation efforts. One such organisation is Wellspring Scotland, where he plays a vital role in enhancing mental health initiatives through digital means. Piotr's commitment and technical skills have contributed significantly to advancing the organisation's mission and making a lasting impact on mental health support.

Moreover, Piotr serves as a digital trustee and treasurer for Learning Link Scotland, where his expertise in budgeting and digital transformation has proven invaluable. His innovative approaches to procurement ensure the efficient allocation of resources, allowing the organisation to provide laptops to those in need while minimising costs.

By Lauren Toal

I have been living with epilepsy for the past twenty years and have been lucky enough to be seizure free for the past eleven. Currently, I work within an organisation which openly supports colleagues with disabilities, although I have had some very different experiences in the past.

Previously, I’ve worked in other organisations that haven’t been supportive of my epilepsy, to the point where I was sacked by an employer after having a seizure. There was also a massive lack of awareness and understanding of what epilepsy is and how it impacts people.

I’ve been asked before if people can catch epilepsy! It’s a hidden disability and there’s a lot to do in terms of understanding in how they can support someone with this neurological condition.
Being able to work in a hybrid environment is crucial for someone who has epilepsy. When you have a seizure, it severely impacts you physically, mentally and emotionally so having the ability to recover and work from home is really beneficial. It’s also important for employers to take into account seizures when it comes to absences.

By Angela Prentner-Smith
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PSYCHOLOGICAL safety is an important concept in the workplace. It refers to an individual's perception of the consequences of taking an interpersonal risk or a belief that a team is safe for risk-taking in the face of being seen as ignorant, incompetent, negative, or disruptive.  The benefits of this are a higher-performing workplace, better placed to innovate, reduce risks, produce better work, and make less errors. 

At  consultancy, training and technology business This is Milk we actively practise what we’re learning as our company culture evolves and we’ve found effective ways of ensuring a psychologically safe space so that our high-functioning teams are the best versions of themselves. 

The first step is communication.  Explain the concept and the reasons why psychological safety is important. Aim to make psychological safety a part of your company’s DNA and lead by example. Be clear in the message, that psychological safety isn’t about creating a "nice" place to work, it requires vulnerable communication, candid professional debate, and a high degree of tolerance for difference.  

​Angela left her birthplace in Calgary, Canada at 15. After completing her A levels at the City of Sunderland College she moved to Glasgow to study History of Art at the University of Glasgow where she achieved a First-Class Honours degree.  Angela split her time at university between her studies and work at the Student Loans Company and subsequently worked with Scottish Power, Tesco Bank, Clydesdale Bank and Barclays before venturing into entrepreneurship.

Since launching her business, This Is Milk, a consultancy, training and technology business, Angela and her team have built a reputation as innovators, creating a strong brand, and forging a unique place in the Scottish market.

By Joe Triccas Product Manager at This is Milk

Self-sovereign data ownership may sound like a complicated concept, but it’s quite straightforward.
Let’s consider a scenario: you’re on a weekend trip, and you suddenly fall ill. You make an appointment with a doctor, but they can’t access your medical records because they are owned by the NHS and not directly accessible across trusts.

This means they are flying blind, hoping that you remember all your allergies and medical history accurately. (The NHS has taken great steps to improve this, alas the issue continues internationally)
In the current data ownership model, you can request your medical records from the NHS, but they are redacted and not entirely under your control. Doctors often trust the data more than what you say, which can create issues in medical treatment, especially for us in the above scenario.

However, imagine a world where you own your medical records. They are stored securely on your phone, protected by biometrics like your face scan or fingerprint. If you travel and fall ill, you can grant temporary access to your medical records to the doctor, who can access what they need. You get to see what information they access, and everyone is happy.

By Angela Prentner-Smith

Psychological safety, the ‘enabler’ of a healthy and prosperous workplace, is being embraced fully by Glasgow-based business founder and Managing Director, Angela Prentner-Smith of This is Milk.
The agency has launched a Psychological Safety Indexing service to clients.

What is psychological safety?

First explored by scholars in the 1960s, psychological safety is re-emerging as a hot topic and the language we use and how we use it is also something businesses should be mindful of.
Psychological safety is the belief that you won’t be punished or humiliated for speaking up with ideas, questions, concerns, or mistakes. This means an absence of interpersonal fear. When psychological safety is present, people can speak up with work-relevant content.

Are we unknowingly being passive-aggressive?
One major consideration with psychological safety is the language we use. Whether unintended or not, passive-aggressive language can contribute negatively to workplace culture and erode psychological safety within a team.

By Eleanor Pringle & Orianna Rosa Royle


It's easy to look at the bosses of some of the world's biggest brands and think they live and breathe their jobs. But that obsessive focus comes with a cost: a loss of the work/life balance so many career advisors tout as a necessity. And the higher employees climb the corporate ladder, the more vital the need can be to switch off.

That's why many c-suite executives are now turning to an 'opposite world'.

Nick Petrie, a New Zealand-based leadership researcher, defines the concept of the opposite world as "an activity or hobby which puts them into a state which is the direct opposite of the mindset they have at work (and recharges them)."
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So what exactly are the globe's CEOs doing to blow off steam?​

By: Morgane Tanguy, UX Designer and Joe Triccas, Product Manager at This is Milk ​

The Larder is a charity that helps people who are neurodiverse and/or come from a disadvantaged background to learn skills required to get a job in the hospitality sector – from preparation for an interview to making coffee. 

Students learn through practice and are exposed to real-life experiences through placements. Their courses are personalised and tailored to fit the students' needs. The Larder fights to address poverty and hunger issues – for example feeding students. 

The Larder partners with 80 businesses across the UK and aims to have 50 businesses in Midlothian alone. We spent 2 hours with them to understand their training experiences and approaches with neurodivergent and disadvantaged people to improve the trainers' experiences on our product ‘Neve’.  

By: Morgane Tanguy, UX Designer at This is Milk

Once a year, BIMA (British Interactive Media Association) organises the ‘Digital Day’. A day where professionals working in digital and technology go back to school, to spend a day with pupils in a school they’ve been matched with. 
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This year, one of my colleagues and I went to a school. It was the first time I was going back to school, since I left. 

We started the day by talking about the digital industry, presented how to respond to a brief and put the pupils in the shoes of people working in a creative agency. The problem they had to solve was the following: “How can digital play a part in improving these experiences, tools, and services to educate customers on sustainability, and make fashion kinder to our planet for you, and for future generations?” for the company Primark.

One of the key elements of building success in your team is for every single member to feel psychologically safe. 

Results from an ambitious internal research project undertaken by Google in 2012 showed that the most important dynamic of effective teams was the existence of psychological safety.

First let’s remind ourselves that psychological safety refers to the belief that you can speak up and express yourself without having to fear negative consequences.

In a business team context this has been best defined by Amy C. Edmondson, Novartis Professor of Leadership and Management at Harvard Business School. 

Google’s ambitious research project to determine what made the perfect team was called ‘Project Aristotle’, paying tribute to philosopher Aristotle’s famous quote stating that “the whole is greater than the sum of its parts.”

The researchers found that the main characteristic of successful teams was, you guessed it, psychological safety. 

If you want your team members to thrive, they must feel safe and secure to take risks and be vulnerable in front of each other. 

Here are nine reasons why you should create a psychologically safe working environment:

1. Increases positive employee engagement
2. Unlocks the benefits of inclusion and diversity in teams
3. Supports mental health
4. Facilitates a strong feedback culture
5. Improves how team members learn from feedback and mistakes
6. Fosters creativity and innovation
7. Improves employee retention
8. Boosts employer branding and talent attraction
9. Attracts brand awareness 

Trust, confidence and inspiration are positive feelings. When we feel safe, we become broader-minded, resilient, motivated, persistent, and curious. We laugh more and find solutions easily as our thinking becomes more divergent. 

Can these emotions be felt in the workplace? It is possible – if it's psychologically safe.  

Psychological safety, the ‘enabler’ of a healthy and prosperous workplace, is being embraced fully by the team here at This is Milk. First explored by scholars in the 1960s, psychological safety is re-emerging as a hot topic.  

Angela Prentner-Smith, founder and MD of This is Milk says: “Research findings back up what we already know from our work with clients. If an organisation isn’t psychologically safe and passive aggressive behaviour goes unchallenged it is so incredibly damaging. It leads to feelings of stress, isolation, a lack of communication which reduces productivity, positivity and ultimately will destroy workplace culture if not tackled.” 

Angela says: “The demonstrable benefits of a safe working space are felt on many levels including greater staff retention and engagement and an improvement in productivity that increases innovation and creativity. What’s more, repeated failures decrease, which invariably results in an increase in profit.” 

By: Angela Prentner-Smith​, Founder and MD of This is Milk

When Covid hit I was four months pregnant with my second child, Neve, and managing an established business with a small team.  I’d gotten into a place where we were comfortably earning enough money and had overcome the start-up anxiety and challenges that plagued our early years.  We had clients, consultants and a team, and everything was, well, comfortable for the first time in my 5 years of running the business. 

I was about to travel to Dubai in March 2020 to deliver training to a client, and as a pregnant traveller, I kept hearing ‘are you sure you should be travelling?’.  I hadn’t really paid much attention to the chat of what was then just termed ‘The coronavirus’, on the basis of not wanting to add worry to my pregnant self.  I was abnormally anxious in my early pregnancy, specifically in relation to the climate emergency.