Our initiative coincides with World Mental Health Day (10 Oct) and will help support our 2200-strong team of construction, engineering and administrative workers, as well as over 4,000 of our supply chain workers throughout the UK and Ireland

We are homing in on staff welfare by investing in the mental health and wellbeing of our 2,200 workers and 4300 supply chain workers.

Training over 80 additional staff members to take up the role as Mental Health First Aiders (MHFA) across the business in a move that will guide and support staff and supply chain workers through one of the most challenging economic periods in our modern history. 

The campaign will be supported by our new online Wellbeing Hub, which acts as a point of reference for any employee who needs support and guidance. The Hub will offer up a host of information on mental health and wellbeing resources including access to counselling and support programmes. 

Complementing the offering will be regular ‘toolbox talks’ that address mental health and wellbeing topics allowing teams to engage with each other on subject-specific dialogues. 

This laser focus on mental wellbeing comes during a time of grave economic uncertainty and follows on from our recent win at the NI Health & Fitness Awards where we received an award for the ‘Best Corporate Wellness Programme’.

We are also a finalist in the Investors In People (IIP) Awards this year for our innovative approach to overall wellbeing in the workplace. 

Speaking about the initiative, Michael Smyth, HR Director, GRAHAM, said:

“Construction has always been considered a macho industry where employees haven’t previously felt comfortable speaking up if they are suffering with their mental health. 

“We feel it is our duty as an employer to act as a figurehead and lead the way when it comes to addressing sensitive issues and that’s exactly what we have chosen to do by pioneering a programme and environment that removes the stigma around mental health issues and replaces it with solutions and support. 

‘Our programme also embraces inclusion and by valuing individuals and promoting a culture of wellbeing to which people respond positively, it allows them to thrive and achieve personal and professional success.

“We have actioned a number of new plans including training an additional 80 employees as certified mental health first aiders. These staff members work across all our departments in the UK and Ireland - from offices to live sites — and they are now readily available to talk to any one of our staff or supply chain employees who needs support and guidance.”

Mr Smyth continues:

“We recognise now, more than ever, that we are living in a very uncertain world, and recognise that our staff balance their working life with a wide range of external issues that may prevent them from feeling their best and we want them to know we are here for them.”

Mental Health First Aiders will be supported by our Human Resources and Health and Safety teams and will be readily identifiable. 

In December 2018, we won the inaugural Excellence in Health and Wellbeing Award at the Investors in People (IIP) Awards.  The prestigious award, which is an international accolade across all industries, was in recognition of our pioneering employee health and wellbeing initiative, CONNECT PLUS. 

We were also awarded IIP Platinum accreditation in 2017, the highest accolade that can be achieved against the IIP standard and is currently held by only 3% of IIP accredited organisations.