Hi Reader,

Welcome to our monthly newsletter! As it's stress awareness month we wanted to talk about how both employees and employers can help battle stress, statistics of stress across industry and of course, the top news hitting the headlines this month!

Almost 1 in 4 people in the UK will experience a mental health problem each year. Industries with high-stress work such as Construction, Rail, Civil Engineering and Highways, see thousands of employees struggling with their mental health, due to not having any information on how they can deal with it.

Work/life balance - Encouraging employees to take regular breaks, use their holiday leave, and prioritise their personal lives can help to create a more balanced work environment.

Create a culture that celebrates open communications - It is vital that you encourage active listening, and acknowledge, and address concerns promptly, to foster a culture of respect and inclusivity, that can help build trust and encourage employees to share their thoughts and ideas openly.

Educating you and your employees - Providing mental health training to all staff members can enable early intervention when showcasing signs of mental health issues.

Read our blog here for more information.

Coping with stress in the workplace is crucial for maintaining overall well-being and performance. Here are some strategies employees can employ to manage stress:

- Identifying stressors from deadlines to workload can help you work on addressing them directly.

- Managing your time allows you to maintain focus and avoid burnout by organising tasks and prioritising them based on urgency.

- Set Boundaries to prevent overworking and burnout.

- Regular exercise reduces stress levels and improves mood.

- Seeking support can provide relief from stress.

-Taking regular breaks can help clear your mind and reduce stress levels

Remember, it's essential to take proactive steps to manage stress before it becomes overwhelming. By incorporating these strategies into your daily routine, you can better cope with stress in the workplace and maintain a healthy work-life balance.

Read more here

During Stress Awareness Month, HSQ Recruitment is there to support employers dealing with stress in the workplace. We have an understanding of how stress can affect both employees and the business, so we can offer tailored solutions. HSQ Recruitment provides employers with advice on creating a supportive work environment and offers resources to reduce stress. By focusing on the well-being of employees, HSQ Recruitment helps businesses build teams that can perform at their best while staying healthy and happy.

"Stress, anxiety, and depression account for around 27% of all work-related illnesses construction"

So what can you as an employer do to help your employees cope with stress?

• Identify Signs of Stress - These signs may include irritability, anxiety, sleep disturbances, and difficulty focusing. Empowering workers to recognise these signs enables them to seek appropriate support and manage their stress effectively.
• Update Company Health and Safety Policies - By doing so, employees feel encouraged to seek assistance if they encounter mental health challenges.
• Promote Work-Life Balance - Implementing flexible work hours can aid workers in maintaining a healthy equilibrium between professional responsibilities and personal life commitments.

• 82% of UK people in Construction say they've experienced a mental health issue because of work
• Workers across Civil Engineering are more vulnerable to burnout, and poor mental health potentially leading to more injuries on site.
• Those working in Rail face unique risk factors such as long hours, shift work, and risk of exposure to traumatic incidents and violence in the workplace.

Having mental health resources in the workplace can help to reduce the stigma around mental health issues. When companies make mental health a priority, they demonstrate their commitment to the well-being of their employees, which can lead to a more supportive and inclusive workplace.

Providing mental health resources to employees can help improve their mental and physical health, increase job satisfaction and productivity, and create a more positive work environment. Sites such as Mind, Mates in Mind and the Mental Health Foundation offer fantastic resources for individuals on how they can identify and cope with mental health issues.

BREAKING NEWS

£45bn rail improvement plan puts climate change firmly in its sights

Network Rail has announced the start of its five-year £45.5bn rail improvement plan aimed at delivering a simpler, better, greener railway to provide the best level of train performance possible. It is more geared up than ever before to cope with the extreme levels of climate change.

Chief Executive of Network Rail, Andrew Haines, commented; "Delivering a better railway for passengers and freight users is at the heart of our new five-year investment plan. Tackling climate change, safely improving train performance, adapting and responding to changing commuter habits whilst managing an ageing infrastructure requires the whole industry to rally for the benefits of all rail users.

“Whilst there are challenges and opportunities ahead, our mission is constant – we’re here to connect people and goods with where they need to be. The railway is part of the fabric of our everyday lives and has been for generations. It provides essential services to society, underpinning economic growth and our plans will support that over the next five years – a period that will mark the railway’s bi-centenary.”

Over the next five years, spanning all the way to 2029, Network Rail will invest around £2.8bn in activities and technologies that will help it better cope with extreme weather and climate change, which will help deliver a more reliable and better performing railway.

READ MORE HERE

Energy | SSE and University of Warwick partner on sustainable heat project

SSE Energy Solutions and the University of Warwick are partnering to explore the feasibility of providing sustainable, low-carbon heat using shallow geothermal ground sources.

The collaboration involves conducting test boreholes on the university campus to evaluate the potential of employing ground-source heat pumps for eco-friendly heating solutions.

The success of this endeavour could significantly advance the university's goal of achieving net zero emissions by 2030, notably by decreasing dependence on natural gas for heating purposes.

Parvez Islam, Director of Environmental Sustainability and Infrastructure at the University of Warwick, expressed, "Our institution is committed to a comprehensive ten-year plan encompassing new constructions, renovations, and infrastructure enhancements. Our vision includes integrating these state-of-the-art facilities into an innovative energy framework, powered by sustainable, low-carbon heat."

READ MORE HERE

Rail | Northern set to recruit more than 300 drivers and conductors in 2024

Northern Rail is looking to hire over 300 drivers and conductors across the North of England this year. The train operator emphasises that these openings are part of its ongoing recruitment process, occurring as existing staff members retire, advance in their careers, or transition to other companies. In 2024, Northern aims to recruit 108 train drivers and 198 conductors, actively welcoming applications from individuals without prior rail industry experience.

Prospective recruits will undergo paid apprenticeships at Northern's training academies in Leeds or Manchester. Train driver positions, starting at £23,000 per year, will be advertised in various locations such as Barrow-in-Furness, Blackburn, Blackpool, and others.

After completing a 64-week training course, salaries can rise to £54,500. Similarly, conductor roles, with starting salaries at £22,000, will be available in locations including Barrow-in-Furness, Blackburn, and Leeds. Following a 16-week training course, salaries can increase to £29,000.

READ MORE HERE

Highways | Northern Trans-Pennine project gains development consent.

The government recently granted development consent for the £1.3bn A66 Northern Trans-Pennine dualling. Balfour Beatty plc, Kier Group and Keltbray are waiting to begin the project, which will be delivered under an enterprise-wide collaborative working agreement.

Organisations will work on upgrading the remaining 18 miles of single-carriage way sections and key junctions on the route between M6 Junction 40 (Penrith) and the A1 at Scotch Corner.

The A66 Northern Trans-Pennine project is one of the most critical road upgrades beginning in the North of England, designated by the Government as a 'Project Speed Pathfinder' Project.

Under the plan, teams have a goal of halving construction time for the project, aiming to bring forward the opening by five years to 2029.

National Highways Project Director, Stewart Jones, commented; "We are delighted to have received approval and to be able to give the people of Cumbria, County Durham and North Yorkshire some positive news.

“A lot of hard work has gone into getting us to this position. Now we can push on and deliver this project as efficiently as possible.”

READ MORE HERE

Construction | Ardmore to deliver final phase of life science in King's Cross

Ardmore is set to deliver the second and final phase of a life science campus based in King's Cross, London.

The contractor was appointed by Reef Group, who developed the 1 million square foot Tribeca campus that will include laboratories, housing, shops and restaurants plus public realm areas. Phase one of the Tribeca scheme in the King's Cross Knowledge Quarter saw VolkerFitzpatrick complete the 112,500 square foot Apex building for £29m last year.

James Byrne, Ardmore Director, commented that the firm had already with Reef for 12 months under a reconstructive services agreement "to ensure the scheme remained deliverable and viable"

The phase two deal of the life science campus is worth £236m and will include the construction of three new buildings named 'The Reflector', 'The Assembly' and 'The Connector', comprising a combined 537,066 square feet.

READ MORE HERE

HSQ Recruitment is driven by a deep passion for the industries we cater to, where we have the privilege of witnessing revolutionary projects, state-of-the-art technologies, and transformative advancements that shape the industry's future, month after month. Follow our newsletter to join us as we delve into the latest and most pioneering innovations, projects, and transformations currently taking place. Together, let's explore the forefront of industry progress.