Seddon expands mental health support for its supply chain 

Seddon Housing Partnerships and Mates in Mind are collaborating to improve workplace wellbeing and mental health. 

The construction and development specialist will expand Mates in Mind’s support to all contractors and sub-contractors working with Seddon, not just direct employees. 

The partnership will allow contractors or subcontractors to have a ‘Lite assessment’, encouraging each to examine their mental health support on offer. 

Following the assessment, Mates in Mind will then offer ways to help improve the support for staff. 

Each firm will be supplied with printed resources and leaflets, as well as training about how best to start conversations around mental health and how to provide ongoing support for team members.

Nicola Hodkinson, owner and director of Seddon, who has been a trustee of Mates in Mind for five years, said: “Working in the construction sector, I can see how important it is for everyone in our sector to have access to good quality mental health support. 

“Being involved with Mates in Mind has been immensely rewarding and I’m excited to be able to offer the charity’s exemplary support to all people in Seddon’s supply chain. 

“There is a mental health crisis in construction and any one job site can have tens of subcontractors or freelance workers, which is why it’s so important for them to receive support in the same way as those employed by Seddon directly.”

Lewis Welsby, contracts manager at Seddon Housing Partnerships, has been a driving force for the new initiative having experienced mental ill-health himself. 

He said: “I wanted to get involved with Seddon’s wellbeing plan because I’m passionate about increasing awareness across, not only our own business, but our supply chain. 

“I found out about Seddon’s Employee Assistance Programme when I was going through my own difficult time in 2023. 

“I believe that it’s important for organisations to foster a culture where people can talk and for the leaders to be able to spot the signs and have the necessary conversations. That’s why it’s important for us to work with Mates in Mind.”

Mental health support and advice for CIOB members, past members and related family is available through CIOB Assist. CIOB, in partnership with Anxiety UK, also provides wellbeing support.