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Welcome to our monthly newsletter! As it's mental health awareness month we wanted to talk about how both employees and employers can help erase the stigma around mental health, statistics of mental health across the industry and course, the top news hitting the headlines this month!

Read more below!

"A third of construction workers suffer from elevated levels of anxiety every day"

What can we do to eliminate the stigma around mental health in the construction industry?

Education and training are key to eliminating stigma across the construction industry. An organisation called Mates in Mind empowers hundreds of companies across the UK to tackle the stigma that surrounds mental health, to embed a positive culture change within these companies. Mates in Mind work alongside partners, sector leaders and a growing community of supporters to deliver effective change across the UK by providing the skills, clarity and confidence to employers on how to raise awareness, improve understanding and accress the stigma around mental health.

Promoting mental health is a vital yet often neglected aspect of worker well-being within the UK construction sector. However, by taking proactive measures, companies can significantly impact their employees' welfare and help prevent them from falling into distressing circumstances.

Identify Signs of Stress - Educating construction workers about the indicators of stress and its effects on their lives is crucial. These signs may include irritability, anxiety, sleep disturbances, and difficulty focusing. Empowering workers to recognise these signs enables them to seek appropriate support and manage their stress effectively.

Update Company Health and Safety Policies - It's imperative to incorporate comprehensive information about mental health support within the company's health and safety protocols. By doing so, employees feel encouraged to seek assistance if they encounter mental health challenges.

Promote Work-Life Balance - Implementing flexible work hours can aid workers in maintaining a healthy equilibrium between professional responsibilities and personal life commitments. This approach not only alleviates stress levels but also enhances productivity, and motivation, and reduces absenteeism.

By prioritising mental health initiatives and implementing proactive strategies, employers can create a work environment where employees feel valued, supported, and empowered to manage their well-being effectively.

Almost 1 in 4 people in the UK will experience a mental health problem each year. Industries with high-stress work such as Construction, Rail, Civil Engineering and Highways, see thousands of employees struggling with their mental health, due to not having any information on how they can deal with it.

Work/life balance - Encouraging employees to take regular breaks, use their holiday leave, and prioritise their personal lives can help to create a more balanced work environment.

Create a culture that celebrates open communications - It is vital that you?encourage active listening, and acknowledge, and address concerns promptly, to foster a culture of respect and inclusivity, that can help build trust and encourage employees to share their thoughts and ideas openly.

Educating you and your employees - Providing mental health training to all staff members can enable early intervention when showcasing signs of mental health issues.

Read our blog here for more information.

To promote mental health awareness, we aim to shed light on the workplace struggles related to mental health issues. As an employer, it's vital to ensure comprehensive support for your employees.

Encouraging an environment where employees feel comfortable discussing mental health can prevent issues from escalating. This, in turn, can result in:

• Reduced instances of absenteeism due to mental health concerns
• Enhanced morale within the workplace

Consider implementing strategies such as:

• Encouraging managers to exemplify positive well-being practices and challenge stigmatisation
• Facilitating regular meetings between employees and managers to address any arising issues
• Providing resources to facilitate open dialogues about mental health
• Raising awareness through training initiatives and campaigns
• Appointing mental health 'champions' trained to listen and guide staff toward necessary support resources.

• A staggering two-thirds (66%) of rail staff said they had experienced a change in their mental health, which had impacted their ability to carry out their work.
• ?43% of rail employee respondents met the criteria for a clinical mental health condition.?
• Over two-thirds of construction workers believe there's a stigma surrounding mental health which stops them from talking about it.
• 48% of construction workers have taken time off work owing to unmanageable stress.
• Stress, anxiety, and depression account for around 27% of all work-related illnesses in construction.
• Workers across Civil Engineering are more vulnerable to burnout, and poor mental health potentially leading to more injuries on site.

For Mental Health Awareness Week, HSQ Recruitment stands ready to assist employers in addressing mental health challenges in the workplace. We recognise the profound impact stress can have on both employees and the overall business, and we're equipped to provide personalised solutions. Our team offers guidance on fostering a supportive workplace culture and supplies resources to alleviate stress. Through prioritising employee well-being, HSQ Recruitment empowers businesses to cultivate teams that excel while maintaining their mental health and happiness.

Rail | Network Rail’s Eastern Region launches new partnership to streamline infrastructure improvement work over the next five years

The Eastern Routes Partnership (ERP) marks a significant milestone for the region, enabling the direct allocation of crucial infrastructure projects to supply chain partners throughout the new railway control period (CP7). This move emphasises collaboration and efficiency, streamlining the process.

ERP is set to span the entire duration of CP7, with the possibility of extension for up to five years into CP8 from 2029, fostering stability in the region's partnerships. Establishing this stability ensures that supply chain partners are already aligned when planning for CP8 commences.

The framework eliminates the need for individual procurement events, resulting in time savings, increased value for money, and enhanced collaboration between the region and its partners from the outset of each project.

READ MORE HERE

Construction | UK construction activity has grown at fastest pace for more than a year

April saw the construction sector experienced its most rapid growth in 14 months, as indicated by PMI data. This marks the second consecutive month of increased business activity, with civil engineering showing its strongest performance in nine months, according to the latest S&P Global UK Construction PMI figures.

The headline figure for April stood at 53.0, up from March's 50.2, marking the sharpest growth since February 2023. A reading of 50.0 on the seasonally adjusted index suggests no change in activity.

Commercial construction outpaced the overall market, reaching an index of 53.9 in April. Survey respondents highlighted increasing workloads and customer demand, particularly in refurbishment projects. Civil engineering also showed significant improvement, with an index of 53.6, marking its strongest growth in nine months. Shortened supplier lead times were attributed to improved material availability.

READ MORE HERE

Energy | UK first in Europe to invest in next generation of nuclear fuel

The United Kingdom is poised to pioneer advanced nuclear fuel production in Europe, aiming to diminish Russia's dominance in this market and bolster both domestic and international energy initiatives. This strategic move aligns with the government's agenda to reduce reliance on Russian energy sources and alleviate energy costs.

A substantial investment of ￡196 million has been earmarked for Urenco to establish a uranium enrichment facility, projected to commence fuel production by 2031. This endeavour aims to diversify the global nuclear fuel supply, thereby reducing dependency on Russian exports of high-assay low-enriched uranium (HALEU).

The initiative is anticipated to create approximately 400 highly skilled jobs, invigorating the local economy and solidifying the North-West of England's stature as a nucleus for nuclear fuel manufacturing. This initiative is integral to the government's broader commitment to fortify the UK's nuclear industry, with investments exceeding ￡763 million directed towards skill development, job creation, and education.

READ MORE HERE

Highways | Essex Highways' 2024 road resurfacing programme underway

Essex Highways is rolling out its 2024 road resurfacing initiative, aiming to enhance and modernise numerous roads throughout the county. This effort will address road deterioration resulting from wet weather, extending the longevity of existing roads and ensuring they remain in optimal condition.

The project is part of Essex Highways' ￡39 million allocation for carriageway maintenance in 2024/25. Residents can anticipate increased activity in road improvement endeavours across the county in the coming months.

The revitalised roads will not only enhance safety but also support environmentally friendly and healthier modes of transportation, fostering a more sustainable travel environment.

Tom Blackburne-Maze, Director of Highways and Transport at Essex County Council, expressed enthusiasm for this year's resurfacing efforts, highlighting the council's commitment to enhancing road infrastructure. He also acknowledged potential inconveniences and pledged to execute the works swiftly while minimising disruptions to affected parties.

READ MORE HERE

HSQ Recruitment is driven by a deep passion for the industries we cater to, where we have the privilege of witnessing revolutionary projects, state-of-the-art technologies, and transformative advancements that shape the industry's future, month after month. Follow our newsletter to join us as we delve into the latest and most pioneering innovations, projects, and transformations currently taking place. Together, let's explore the forefront of industry progress.