Cotswolds firm named UK employer of the year for best mental health support

Tyler Grange, an environmental consultancy based in Cirencester, has been named SME Employer of the Year at the national InsideOut Awards 2024.

The UK-wide awards recognise and celebrate companies that go the extra mile for their employees' wellness, mental health and overall wellbeing at work.

Tyler Grange, which is also a B-Corp and offers its staff a four-day working week as standard with no loss of salary, was praised by the judges for its implementation of the best mental health and wellbeing programme for staff, with a focus on recovery and preventative solutions.

The Cotswolds firm has in-house psychologists for employees to access when needed, plus staff can work with mentors and request BACP-accredited counselling, which the company pays for.

Tyler Grange also works with resilience consultants and mindfulness coaches, who help staff build self-awareness, mental fitness and empathy to better understand and support themselves and each other.

According to InsideOut, a charity that works to end the stigma of mental ill-health in the workplace, around 15 per cent of employed people working in England have symptoms of a mental health problem and it’s estimated that one billion people, globally, suffer from anxiety. The charity also reported that poor mental health costs UK employers up to £45 billion a year and over £100 billion for the overall economy.

Jon Berry, managing director of Tyler Grange, said: 'We were up against some very tough competition in this award category, so we’re absolutely thrilled to be named as the winner.

'It was brilliant to be amongst so many other innovative businesses and individuals who are committed to celebrating and championing mental health in our communities and workplaces. Human sustainability is both important and powerful, so it was encouraging to be amongst the company of those who are equally committed to creating cultures that enable people to enjoy a balanced life and achieve everything they want to achieve.

'At Tyler Grange, we’re always looking at ways that we can further enhance our culture, within which people can feel safe in seeking help when they’re struggling. But also, where we’re educating, inspiring and giving permission and space to prioritise wellbeing, which is essential. It’s important to recognise that any of us can end up in that place where we’re struggling, so we’re doing everything we can to help prevent it.

'We’ve always really considered the impact of work on the wellbeing of our tribe, and how we can make it conducive to helping them thrive. In doing so, we’ve also been able to attract and retain the best talent through a shared vision and purpose. To have this recognised by being named as SME Employer of the Year at the InsideOut Awards underpins this.'

Other category winners on the night included national companies such as Accenture, Air Canada, Santander, Sky Media, Transport for London and Mars.