Keepmoat helps employees to build mental health resilience through its performance framework designed to enable them to feel valued, supported and thrive in their roles.
The UK homebuilder, which works with local authorities, housing associations and landowners, employs more than 1,000 staff and operates across nine regional offices from Scotland to south west England.
It recognises that the construction sector can be a high-pressure environment, so ensuring workplace wellbeing and an open approach to mental health is central to its culture. It also places strong emphasis on developing life skills that support personal wellbeing, long-term success and mental resilience.
Building thriving and resilient communities starts with supporting the organisation’s best asset, which is its people, explains Debbie Waddington, group HR director at Keepmoat.
“We have an embedded people-centric strategy that focuses on attraction, development and retention,” she says. ”As part of our Valuing Difference and KeepWell initiatives, we work to equip our managers and leaders with the skills and confidence to have meaningful conversations around physical health, mental health and overall wellbeing.”
In terms of benefits and tools to support employees’ mental health and their resilience, Keepmoat has trained mental health first aiders, appointed wellbeing champions and established peer support groups for menopause and neurodiversity. Its other resources include a 24/7 helpline, live chat, counselling and self-help tools, to provide a clear path for those seeking support. Screensavers, posters and QR codes are used to highlight these support services.
The employer actively supports its staff to develop the skills that build resilience, helping them to be happy, confident and successful at work. It does this by being a partner of The Lighthouse Charity, a specialist construction wellbeing organisation that provides vital emotional, physical and financial wellbeing support for people working in the sector, says Waddington.
“Additionally, our annual KeepWell programme is centred around a 12-month calendar which includes various monthly touchpoints with our people,” she adds. ”This enables us to review our support throughout the year. We’re passionate about workplace wellbeing and championing positive work-life balance to equip our teams with the support they need.”
Keepmoat believes it is important to focus on building mental health resilience in a high-pressure, fast-paced industry such as construction, where teams often face tight deadlines, physical demands and complex project environments.
“Our KeepWell initiative focuses on inclusive leadership and personal development, recognising that resilience is strengthened when people feel supported, valued and able to be themselves at work,” Waddington says.
