Wellbeing

Every Wednesday, we ask colleagues to take an hour to themselves – on top of their usual lunch hour – to do something that supports their mental health and wellbeing.

Whether that’s going for a walk, reading a book or something entirely different, this time is for colleagues to log off and take their mind off work.

The British Business Bank has had Mental Health First Aiders (MHFAs) for the last five years. Currently, we have four MHFAs in the business, split evenly between our Sheffield and London offices.

While location is less of a concern as we work remotely, our MHFAs are on hand to support colleagues who, directly or indirectly, are interested in mental health or are sadly going through challenges themselves.

We support our MHFAs by arranging training with MHFA England, equipping our team with the skills and insight they need to assist other colleagues.

This free and confidential programme is available to colleagues and their immediate family 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year.

The EAP allows colleagues to talk to trained professionals and seek support covering a wide range of themes, including:

• counselling for stress and bereavement
• debt
• health and wellbeing
• relationships
• personal legal support
• anxiety and depression
• workplace pressure

We’ve teamed up with Thrive – a mental wellbeing app – to support our colleagues and their mental wellbeing.

The app offers support such as relaxation techniques, thought training and sleep improvement, helping colleagues to improve their mental wellbeing.

We take a proactive approach to employee health and wellbeing and, via our HR team, host regular workshops, webinars and events with colleagues and various people from outside the organisation to keep wellbeing at the forefront of everything we do.

Here’s a selection of just some of the sessions and events we’ve run at the Bank:

• Step up September
• Walking and running groups
• Cooking workshop: Deliciously Nutritious – Easy lunch for busy professionals
• Regular desk yoga and stretching sessions