Our workplaces play a significant role in our lives, and it’s crucial to recognise the impact they can have on our mental health. As we observe Mental Health Awareness Week from 15th – 21st May 2023, we can take the opportunity to shed light on creating a mentally healthy and supportive work environment. Here are some key aspects to consider:

1. Open Dialogue and Supportive Culture

Encourage open conversations about mental health in the workplace. Foster a culture where employees feel comfortable discussing their well-being without fear of judgment or repercussions.

2. Flexible Work Arrangements

Recognise the diverse needs and challenges individuals face when it comes to mental health. Implement flexible work arrangements, such as remote work options, flexible hours, or mental health days, to accommodate employees’ well-being.

3. Training

Equip managers and employees with the necessary tools to support mental health in the workplace. Consider offering mental health first aid courses to your employees.

4. Workload Management

Promote a healthy work-life balance by ensuring manageable workloads and realistic deadlines.

5. Employee Assistance Programs

Implement or enhance Employee Assistance Programs (EAPs) to provide confidential and accessible support for employees. EAPs can offer counselling services, mental health resources, and referrals to professionals when needed.

6. Celebrate Achievements and Encourage Breaks

Recognise and appreciate the efforts and achievements of all employees. Celebrate milestones such as length of service and create a positive work environment that values and acknowledges individual contributions. Encourage regular breaks, promote physical activity, and create opportunities for relaxation and rejuvenation during the workday.

Remember, mental health is a collective responsibility. By prioritising mental well-being in the workplace, we can create an environment that fosters productivity, creativity, and overall job satisfaction. Let’s use Mental Health Awareness Week as a starting point to nurture mental health in our workplaces and support each other on the journey to well-being.

Company Values

Company values are a set of principles or guidelines that define how an organisation conducts itself both internally to its employees and externally to customers/ clients. To use company values effectively, you first need to understand what they are and why they matter. Once you have a clear understanding of your company’s values, you can start incorporating them into your daily work and decision-making processes. Here are a few tips to help you use company values.

1. Familiarise yourself with your company’s values. Read and understand what each value means and how it applies to your work.

2. Incorporate company values into your work. Use them as a guide for decision-making, problem-solving, and prioritizing tasks.

3. Lead by example. Demonstrate your commitment to company values by modelling them in your behaviour and interactions with others.

4. Use company values to guide team meetings and discussions. Start meetings by discussing how the values apply to the agenda items.

5. Celebrate successes that embody company values. Recognise employees who demonstrate a commitment to company values through their work.

Remember, company values are not just a list of empty words. They are a critical component of your organization’s culture and serve as a framework for how you and your colleagues conduct yourselves. By using company values effectively, you can help foster a positive and productive work.

Taking time to consider and develop company values that resonate with you and your team is always time very well spent.

Eligibility

Apprentices must have the right to work in the UK and be aged 16 or over. Specific age requirements may vary depending upon the apprenticeship. Generally, apprenticeships do not have fixed academic entry requirements, however there can be a minimum level of education or qualifications required.

The Advantages to your Business

Skills Development:

apprenticeships provide your business with the opportunity to develop highly skilled employees tailored to your specific business requirements.

Cost Effective:

training existing employees or hiring talent with a view to training can be expensive.  With apprenticeships being supported by government funding, this reduces the financial burden for your company.

Diverse Training Opportunities:

Apprenticeships are available in diverse fields such as Finance, IT, HR, creative industries, healthcare and hospitality in addition to the more traditionally associated fields such as construction and manufacturing. More of your employees can now gain the advantages of learning new skills via this pathway.

Talent Retention:

your employees will view company investment in apprenticeships as investment in its people.

Succession Planning:

by investing in apprentices and developing existing employee skills you can generate a pool of talent ready to step into more skilled and senior roles, thus reducing the need to externally recruitment.