Recruitment firm Gi Group is to increase the number of its employees who are trained mental health first aiders (MHFA) as part of its focus on employee wellbeing this year.
The firm, which has almost 500 UK employees, currently has 45 qualified MHFAs across the business, with a further 55 planned over the next six months. This will equate to one MHFA for every 10 employees and hit the target set out by MHFA England. At the end of 2024, the Group will have at least one MHFA for each of its 85 UK locations.
By training employees to become MHFAs, Gi Group’s aim is to deepen its supportive family feel, so staff know they can rely on guidance and that there is a sympathetic ear whenever they may need it.
The group’s head of learning and development, Emma-Louise Taylor, has undertaken the Mental Health First Aid England training programme to qualify as an MHFA instructor. Equipped with the skills to spot the signs of poor mental health, the confidence to start a conversation about mental wellbeing and the knowledge to signpost to appropriate support, she can now deliver training both internally and externally for customers and partners.
Taylor said: “At Gi Group, we’re proud to be taking a proactive approach towards caring for our employees’ wellbeing and supporting each individual through their personal mental health experiences in and outside of work. The working landscape has shifted dramatically in the last few years, and we want to do all we can to ensure we’re providing support for all our people, especially given the recent statistics around ill health in employees at work.
“The workplace is a huge part of our lives, a place we spend a large majority of our time, so we want to ensure it’s a space where employees can talk freely about mental health and seek support when they need it, without any judgement.”