Behaviour Change Toolkit

The Social Science and Water Efficiency Engagement (SWEE) project was established to explore how behavioural science could help improve water efficiency conversations during home visits. Led by Glasgow Caledonian University and Artesia Consulting, and supported by a steering group including water companies, contractors and sector specialists, the project developed a substantial body of research into behaviour change, customer engagement and water-saving practices.

The challenge was not creating the research. It was making that research usable.

Home visitors, plumbers and water efficiency practitioners operate in fast-paced environments where information needs to be clear, practical and immediately applicable. The original toolkit content contained valuable insight and evidence, but translating that material into something practitioners could quickly understand, retain and apply in real-world conversations required a different skillset.

Weir was commissioned to bridge that gap.

Working closely with project partners, we transformed the technical draft into a practical, field-ready toolkit. Our role focused on editing, content simplification, information design and visual communication. We reviewed extensive long-form content, condensed complex explanations into concise guidance, restructured information around user needs and developed a format that prioritised accessibility and ease of use.

Rather than asking practitioners to work through lengthy documents, we redesigned the content around quick-reference guidance, behavioural flashcards, practical examples, engagement checklists and real-world scenarios. Every design and editorial decision was guided by a simple question: would someone use this during a busy day of customer visits?

The result is a toolkit that makes behavioural science approachable and actionable. It helps practitioners understand why people use water in different ways, how behaviour change works and how simple communication techniques can encourage lasting change. Most importantly, it equips front-line teams with practical tools they can use confidently in customers' homes.

The project demonstrates the value of combining research expertise with user-centred design. By transforming complex behavioural science into an engaging and accessible resource, the SWEE Toolkit helps ensure valuable research reaches the people who can put it into practice and ultimately supports more effective water efficiency programmes across the UK.