Wellbeing and Resilience Programme

Concerns over the impact of COVID-19 on mental health and wellbeing in the community are widely expressed. As a result of this, we have developed a new programme of support in partnership with Hertfordshire County Council, which aims to promote and support the wellbeing and mental health of employers and business owners as a vital way to improve resilience and increase productivity. 

As the central point of access for business support in the county, we have been assisting businesses during the pandemic to navigate and access the emergency Government business support provisions and, as these temporary schemes draw to a close, employers will continue to face concerns over their workforce and cashflow. 

The Working Environment 

The way we work has changed significantly for many businesses over the past six months. Employers, business owners and their workforce may still be working remotely or, for those that have returned to adapted COVID-secure business premises, things are not how they were. There are many risk factors for wellbeing and mental health that may now be a concern for you and your employees. These include feelings of isolation and ‘information-overload’ from using digital technology for all our communications, which can also bring the fear or anxiety of catching or spreading the virus to those that we live with who may be vulnerable.

Daily Life Pressures 

In addition to the change in work routines, daily life had also change for many. The time saved on the daily commute during lockdown was used for home-schooling or caring for family members. Some of the routines developed during this time may continue, such as caring for vulnerable friends and family.  For some, home life has changed as the people they live with may be furloughed or may have been made redundant leading to financial concerns. 

Leading During Change 

Employers and business owners will also be experiencing the challenges outlined above, but they are also tasked with leading a team or running a business at the same time. Combined with issues such as managing cash flow and supply chain issues caused by the pandemic, personal wellbeing and mental health can often slip down the list of priorities for businesses. However, just as the airlines teach us to put our oxygen masks on first before helping others, employers and business owners can only look after their business and employees by addressing their own wellbeing first. 

Our Wellbeing and Resilience Programme offers a fully-funded programme of support which includes advice, webinars, on-demand videos, as well as useful resources and tools. 

If you would like to find out more about this programme, please email enquiries@hertsgrowthhub.com