Aberdeen-based business Greenwell Equipment is putting mental health at the heart of its operations, offering in-house wellbeing support to its growing workforce through trained team members.
With four high-demand divisions – office furniture, pallet racking, cabins and containers, and modular buildings – Greenwell understands the pressures staff can face daily. Our newly qualified mental health first aiders Clare Christian and Euan Grant are trained to spot the signs of crisis within the workforce and offer support to their staff to get the help they need, short term and long term.
While Clare and Euan continue in their existing roles, both are certified to provide mental health first aid, offering a safe, trusted point of contact within the workplace.
Founder and Director Julie Wood, who this year celebrates 10 years of sobriety, has long been open about her own journey with mental health. It’s that lived experience, she says, that fuels her commitment to staff wellbeing.
“Having found inner harmony, I now find myself with greater empathy for others and their struggles,” Julie said. “I know how isolating it can feel when you’re suffering in silence. I want Greenwell to be a place where people know they’re not alone.”
Julie’s personal approach includes regular check-ins and small acts of kindness – like leaving vegan chocolate for Clare and Toblerones for the lads on their desks. “It may not reduce the workload,” she said, “but it’s my way of saying: I see you, I appreciate you, and I care.”
Clare Christian said: "Mental health is something I care very strongly about as it has impacted so many people I know, including myself. It’s important that everyone feels heard, especially in the workplace”
Euan Grant added: “Our aim is to create a supportive environment where staff feel safe, respected and understood.”One piece of advice Julie often shares – something that helped her immensely – is this:” rescue a dog. You never know, it might just rescue you right back. And don’t forget – chocolate always helps too.”
Greenwell’s message is clear: staff wellbeing isn’t an afterthought – it’s part of the foundation of their success.