Monday signalled the start of National Stress Awareness Week, which encourages local companies to focus on the wellbeing of employees at the heart of their businesses.

Earlier this year, Herefordshire & Worcestershire Chamber of Commerce signed the Time to Change Pledge to help transform the way we all think and act towards people experiencing mental health problems.

I am pleased that the Chamber is leading on the employer element of Time to Change Worcestershire, and I would like to invite local businesses to a free event to find out more about getting involved with the national social movement.

Taking place on Thursday, November 15, the event is aimed at any employer in Worcestershire who is keen to tackle stigma and discrimination around mental health in their workplace. Attendees will be given an introduction to Time to Change and what it means to be a Time to Change employer.

Guests will learn why it is beneficial to sign the pledge, what is involved in the pledge signing process, the funding that is available for Time to Change Community Champions and how to get Time to Change Champions engaged in your workplace. To find out more information, and to book your free place, please visit bit.ly/TTCWorcs.

The Chamber’s final Quarterly Economic Survey (QES) of the year has now gone live. As the last indicator of the year, we will use results from this quarter to help produce the Chamber’s Business Manifesto for 2019.

Within the QES, we have asked local companies to select up to 10 key issues from a list of business concerns raised throughout 2018, one of which is to assist employers in addressing and managing health and wellbeing in the workplace.

To have your say and to help us shape our key policy objectives for next year, contact Daisie Rees-Evans, policy executive, on daisier@hwchamber.co.uk.