The Motor Ombudsman has partnered with automotive industry charity Ben to create ‘Steer, a new quick-reference guide to help automotive businesses recognise and support employees encountering mental health and wellbeing challenges
The printed and free-to-download guide from The Motor Ombudsman’s website (TheMotorOmbudsman.org) has been developed in response to the Ombudsman’s annual poll of vehicle repairers, which found that the increasing pressures on the mental and physical health of team members were one of the biggest workforce challenges for their business
Amongst other topics, Steer offers an insight into key issues which are driving mental health struggles, and provides practical strategies for assisting people effectively, including resources and support available from Ben.
The guide was unveiled by The Motor Ombudsman and Ben at the Automechanika, Birmingham trade show taking place at the National Exhibition Centre (NEC).
Bill Fennell, Chief Ombudsman and managing director of The Motor Ombudsman, said: “We are delighted to be partnering with Ben on such an important initiative. The resource has been designed to guide businesses in the right direction when identifying mental health challenges, whilst equally empowering employers and employees to talk openly in a positive environment to tackle these challenges effectively together.
“People are an organisation’s most valuable resource, and whilst there is never a ‘one-size-fits all-approach’, it is important that they never feel alone and are aware that there is support available in their time of need, both via their employer and beyond. In fact, Steer builds on our own internal and continued commitment to staff wellbeing and training offered to our teams, and we look forward to sharing the resource across the automotive sector, and promoting the great work that Ben does in the space of staff wellbeing.”
Rachel Clift, Ben chief executive officer, said: “We’re thrilled to join forces with The Motor Ombudsman, an authority in the automotive sector, to provide this much needed and vital resource which will prove very useful to those working in the industry. It also allows us to engage further and build even greater awareness about mental health and the importance of talking about this topic, which can still have a stigma attached to it.”
