Our people, communities & partners

22 December 2023

Supporting employee mental and physical wellbeing

At British Sugar we take part in numerous initiatives through the year to encourage good mental health amongst our employees. This has included mental health awareness training from rural mental health charity ‘Yana Farming’ for our Agriculture team, and supporting the work of the ‘Farm Safety Foundation’. Several of our colleague across our sites are also fully trained Mental Health First Aiders.

To encourage an open attitude to discussing mental health challenges in the workplace, we have supported ‘Time to Talk’ Day each February, asking colleagues to consider why talking is important and providing conversation starter resources. The message that ‘it’s ok not to be ok’ continues to be spread through the business at all levels, from senior management onwards. In May we take part in Mental Health Awareness Week.

In 2021, we set up an Inclusion and Diversity Group made up of colleagues from across all areas of our business, who support our People Team in achieving our Inclusion and Diversity vision to create a workplace environment where everyone can thrive within a culture of inclusion, a culture that empowers and respects everyone. The Group supports initiatives such as National Inclusion Week and International Women’s Day each year, as well as internal events such as a recent talk on neurodiversity at our Newark site.

We also have a Menopause Support Group, for colleagues and their friends and family being affected by peri-menopausal and menopausal symptoms.

To help support physical health, lunchtime exercise classes are also provided for colleagues to join online from wherever they are based, and we also have leisure facilities in our factories. Numerous running clubs are in place, with colleagues supporting each other to reach their fitness goals.