Bradfords Building Supplies has launched Mental Health Awareness for Managers, an updated workshop programme set to be deployed across the entire business’ branch management.
The builders’ merchant, which is an early adopter of mental health awareness training, has already appointed mental health first aiders across the business to provide support for its 830 staff. This new programme is aimed at addressing the evolving needs of its staff following the pandemic, and will see over 70 managers attend a series of interactive workshops.
David Young, CEO of Bradfords Building Supplies, commented: “As a family-owned business, people are at the heart of what we do, and we know that many of our employees and customers are likely to be impacted in some way by poor mental health.
“The world has obviously changed a huge amount over the course of the last 18 months, not to mention how we as a business have evolved, including taking on a host of new industry talent. We have a responsibility to ensure our managers, especially at branch level, are as best equipped as they can be in order to look after their people.”
“This training is focused on teaching managers about the signs to look out for, and then directing staff members to the wide range of resources available to support them. We don’t treat people here, it’s about getting them into the right support mechanism, whether that’s advice on wellbeing or a more specific need.
“To support this we have an established employee assistance programme, but these sessions also emphasise the importance of the basics – knowing our people, and checking in on a regular basis so we can spot any signs of difficulty for our colleagues early.”
Bradfords also remains committed to its partnership with Mental Health UK, which brings together the expertise of its four national charity partners to improve understanding of mental health issues and provide vital care. Bradfords’ relationship with the charity also aims to help change the industry’s perception of mental health and provide people with the confidence to have open conversations about mental wellbeing.
