With the pandemic, wellbeing has to be at the forefront of all our minds. It’s clear that everyone can have ups and downs with mental health. So, we need to protect it and be proactive. Being able to come together with other organisations through the Broadgate Mental Health Network and share ideas is so valuable. There’s a business rationale to this as well – addressing wellbeing can increase productivity by 12%.¹

When we were first sent home with the lockdown, everyone felt quite overwhelmed with how we were going to cope. This was about more than getting people’s IT to work; it was about how can we get everyone into the space they need to be in? The mental health element was huge.

Having a forum where you already knew the people was key. The Broadgate Mental Health Network gives us a place to talk openly, share ideas and support each other. Bravura Solutions has been involved in the network since we moved onto the campus a couple of years ago. The chance to be part of something bigger and make new connections really attracted me.

Raft of good ideas

Through the network, we all share what we’re doing. So, you get a raft of good ideas to put into practice, things you hadn’t considered before. The Broadgate team also arranges speakers from the local area, so you hear from people with different perspectives and make useful contacts.

We met Anne Thomas of Mind in Hackney at one session and stayed in touch. She’s now training our Mental Health First Aiders and has joined some of our online coffee breaks, where employees explore issues they’re facing. We’re now starting a group for employees who’ve suffered from Covid, where they can share experiences and support each other. Talking to others who’ve had similar experiences is so important for growth, hope and recovery.

There’s also a light-hearted side. The Broadgate team told us about a ‘British Land’s Got Talent’ event and someone else mentioned getting llamas to join a video call. Alongside the serious side, it’s important to laugh and have fun.

Let’s get in front of mental health

Rather than reacting to people when they’re not feeling themselves or not in a good place, let’s get in front of mental health and look at the workforce as a whole. It’s about everyone having what they need to thrive.

Anything that promotes mental health is a massive advantage for an organisation. When people are thinking about working for an employer, they look at how wellbeing’s taken into consideration, whether there’s a duty of care for people to thrive.

Mental health is high on the agenda at Bravura Solutions and I’m proud of how much we do in this space – bringing groups together, recognising and celebrating key dates, weekly coffee breaks, webinars and podcasts, Mental Health First Aiders and employee assistance programmes – but we can always do more.

Open conversations

While everyone’s been working remotely, the Broadgate Mental Health Network has been a great way to stay in touch and talk about what we can do to make things better. When we’re back at Broadgate, we’ll have access to the wider campus offer again – yoga, mindfulness, celebration events – all the activities that make people feel part of something and valued.

The network will still be important though. If anything came out of this pandemic, it’s about having open conversations. And that’s what we’re doing on the network. We’re all based in the same neighbourhood. We’re all experiencing the same issues. Together, we can support our employees and each other.

Additional views on the Broadgate Mental Health Network

Alice Marston, Digital Social Media Manager at TP ICAP, Broadgate occupier: “It’s so important that we talk openly and honestly about mental health. The Broadgate Mental Health Network is a great space to bounce ideas off different businesses and professionals. It’s really helpful to hear what others are doing and what they’ve found useful. I always come away with good resources and opportunities. I hope that more businesses focus on mental health, removing taboos, so people are able to talk about issues and find solutions.”

Briony Daniels, London Office Manager at FNZ, Broadgate occupier: “FNZ is forward thinking about mental health. The Broadgate Mental Health Network has been hugely beneficial in creating awareness and building community. The meetings are insightful and inspiring. All members are interested in what others have to say and keen to improve mental health provisions for their employees. It’s a valuable tool for businesses at Broadgate and I hope people and organisations keep having these conversations and continue the great work in reducing stigma around mental health discussions. The more people learn, the easier they can recognise the symptoms of mental health challenges, know where to go for help and ultimately help themselves.”

Customer Networks

British Land facilitates and supports customer collaborations on shared interests. These include the Broadgate Mental Health Network, IDEA Paddington diversity and inclusion network and Regent’s Place Community Fund, as well as environmental and LGBTQ+ groups.

¹ Mental Health Foundation, Oxford Economics and Unum (2016)