Blog: Health, Safety and Wellbeing winner 2018

07 September 2018

Lendlease Construction

Number of staff: 1300

Type of organisation: Contractor

The Judges said..."A long term and high-level commitment to health & wellbeing has provided significant resource to establish and maintain an industry-leading and contemporary programme to support a health and productive workforce"

Lendlease Construction has been at the forefront of raising the awareness of mental health within the construction industry and their work with Mental Health First Aiders (MHFA), is a part of the overarching Lendlease Health & Wellbeing Strategy to support healthier minds and bodies, to build healthier places and to create healthier cultures.

They are the first construction company to formally establish the MHFA, a network that is now being replicated across other of Lendlease’s regional business generating a capacity to support 17,000 employees worldwide.  Lendlease has taken the initiative to introduce MHFA stickers for identification on hard hats and laptops, making First Aiders identifiable to the workforce.

In addition to using the training to educate and break down stigma, the overarching strategic action has been to focus on establishing the first aider network with the primary objective of creating a ‘culture of care’.  As such, and by gaining senior management support, the MHFA network has been given the same level of priority as physical first aid and is also viewed as a fundamental component of Health and Safety and Sustainability Strategies. All Lendlease employees undertake MHFA training as part of their company induction, with references to MHFAs being a part of all site inductions.

“This category looks for organisations with overarching health & safety management systems and cultures” explains Peter Binham, Principal City Planner, Transport for London and representing CLOCS, sponsors of the Health, Safety & Wellbeing Award.  “Through a long term and high-level commitment to health & wellbeing, Lendlease has provided significant resource to establish and maintain an industry-leading and contemporary programme to support a healthy and productive workforce.”

Lendlease will now go through to the Constructing Excellence National Awards on the 16th of November where they will be up against other regional winners from around the UK including Speller Metcalfe, Morgan Sindall and Willmott Dixon.

The Constructing Excellence SECBE Awards 2019 will be launching shortly after the winners of the national awards are announced, focusing on works carried out in 2018. To make sure you don't miss out, register your interest here.