A big step forward

At the heart of all successful organisations there are healthy and motivated employees. Our people are far more likely to deliver the goods and help make a fantastically successful business if they’re supported and feel valued. Unfortunately, there’s still a stigma surrounding mental health, with research by Mind showing that nine in ten people who’ve experienced a mental health problem have faced negative treatment from others as a result. That’s why we’ve signed the Time to Change Employer Pledge, the growing social movement run by charities Mind and Rethink Mental Illness which supports people to open up to mental health problems.

We mean business when we say we’re determined to help end the stigma surrounding mental health and were thrilled to see a fantastic response from people across the business, from bricklayers to Directors and Executives signing the Pledge. This now takes pride of place at our Barbican office where it’s a daily reminder of our aim to shape more mentally healthy workplaces.

The tools in our shed

The Pledge is just a small part of our work with Mind, who recently awarded us a Bronze Workplace Wellbeing Award.

Some of the initiatives which caught the eye of the judges:

• Money Doctor workshops relieve money worries and support our people’s peace of mind and mental health.
• The Phone Home service provides on-site teams with tools to boost contact with their families, with Skype stations, free WiFi, iPads and dedicated booths for privacy.
• Wellness Action Plans support those with mental health issues through customised action plans.
• Vitality healthcare and Fitbits for every employee. We’re also making fitness more fun by gamifying results and awarding the most active steppers every month.

Looking to the future

We’re not resting on our laurels and have more initiatives in the pipeline, from mental health first aid training for our people to a new Mount Anvil Mental Health Committee.

In the words of our Occupational Health Coach, Roxanne Thorpe, “Health and safety is our number one business goal – we go beyond systems and procedures and manage lots of campaigns throughout the year. It’s all about supporting our people’s health – the often-forgotten part of health and safety.”

Want to find out more about all the perks we offer to our people? Check them out and have a peek at our current vacancies.