Builders Merchants Journal – BMJ Publishing to Builders Merchants and the UK merchanting industry for more than 95 years
(Left to Right) Mental Health First Aiders Michelle Francis (Head of Talent Management) and Sharron Harris (Head of Operational Human Resources)Northamptonshire-based building products manufacturer Forterra celebrated the inaugural Mental Health First Aider’s day on November 12 2025.
According to the 2024 Burnout report by the organisation Mental Health UK, 9 in 10 people at work in the UK experienced high or extreme levels of pressure or stress in the last year.
Each mental health first aider in Forterra is equipped with an understanding of how to support others in a crisis, and ensures that employees are aware of a colleague that they can talk to in the short-term, allowing them to share the issues they’re facing, encouraging a healthy work environment surrounding mental health.
Group people director, Sarah Renton, said: “In any workplace it’s crucial to have representatives that are trained to deal with mental health concerns of their colleagues. Our employees’ wellbeing is paramount, and we want them to know that our mental health first aiders are there to offer support, whether it’s a non-judgemental discussion about how the employee is feeling, or exploring helpful options to aid them in tackling whatever they’re struggling with.”
