This Employee Assistance Programme builds on the previous work the Group has undertaken to ensure that employees are supported to be their very best at both home and work.

Colleagues are encouraged to call a confidential helpline, where their needs will be assessed, before they are referred to a service that can provide tailored assistance to that individual’s needs. The bespoke assistance provided includes:

• Up to 5 counselling sessions with a trained counsellor/expert
• Access to financial experts for help with any money worries
• Bereavement support
• Family issues
• Any other matter relating to well-being and mental health

Access to the scheme begins the moment a colleague joins the business; all they need to do is to telephone the number provided and say that they, or their family member works for Swansway Group. And the message is clear; employees are actively encouraged to talk about issues that are affecting them in their daily lives. To ensure the message reaches its target audience, Swansway Group "stress balls" with the number of the helpline on them, so that team members know that help is always there.

Director David Smyth said of the initiative,

“Our colleagues are extremely important to us. We are committed to fostering consistent, positive working environments with the promotion of wellbeing and mental health awareness across the business.

“We hope that our employees will derive great benefit from our investment in this initiative, and we look forward to the positive outcomes we believe it will deliver, for both the team members and the business.”