2023 is proving to be a successful year for Bents Garden & Home with awards from the Garden Centre Association and the Family Business Community. And now the Centre is celebrating another important recognition, a Gold Award from Warrington Borough Council achieved in supporting the health and wellbeing of its colleagues.
Bents’ colleagues are considered central to the success of the family owned and run business which is why so much importance is placed on their wellbeing; something which has been acknowledged by this latest award from Warrington Borough Council.
Says Matthew Bent, Managing Director at Bents: “We have worked really hard to develop our wellbeing strategy so it is great to get this recognition. In the aftermath of the pandemic there have been growing external pressures so we know it is critical to support our colleagues’ in terms of their physical, mental and financial well-being”
Since appointing a new Head of Culture last year Bents has worked closely with its team of ‘Culture Champions’ to identify ways it can help. Initiatives include Wellbeing Walks with a trained practitioner, providing colleagues with the opportunity to talk and reconnect, and weekly yoga sessions have proved very popular. Reduced gym membership and mental health awareness training have also helped towards the Gold Award from Warrington Borough Council.
In addition Bents has worked closely with the council and their NHS Wellbeing Bus, offering colleagues the opportunity for confidential onsite health checks and personal MOTs, which are easily accessible during work hours.
Additional opportunities for health checks recently arose following a £1000 voucher win at this year’s Health & Wellbeing at Work event to spend on wellbeing. Following discussions with colleagues, the request for further health checks was fulfilled.
Says Matthew Bent, Managing Director at Bents Garden & Home: “Our colleagues are hugely important to us and the initiatives we have put in place come from them directly, something we believe is vital to their success. We have a team of 16 Culture Champions who seek out ideas and requests, all of which is fed back to management who then work hard to put initiatives in place which can help support our colleagues’ mental, physical and financial wellbeing.”
Bents also promotes the use of the Perennial App, a free platform dedicated to helping people in the horticulture industry and provides a wide range of health and wellbeing content including recipe ideas, podcasts and educational videos. Through the app, Bents colleagues have also have free access to trained counsellors who can offer further support in all wellbeing areas.
