Travis Perkins and Tarmac Blue Circle have expanded their support for Band of Builders’ Big Brew campaign, with almost 80 events being held across the Travis Perkins branch network this year.
The rollout represents a doubling of the number of events delivered through last year’s campaign, which aims to provide construction workers with an informal opportunity to discuss mental health and learn about available support.
Big Brew campaign expands across Travis Perkins branches
The latest phase of the campaign recently reached Travis Perkins’ Bedford branch, where representatives from the three organisations met with local tradespeople to discuss mental health and the support available to workers.
Big Brew events are designed as informal drop-in sessions, using conversations over a drink to encourage tradespeople to talk about mental health and signpost them towards Band of Builders’ support services.
These include a 24/7 text support service, telephone helpline, face-to-face counselling and online wellbeing resources.
Richard Lavin, Managing Director of Travis Perkins, said: “The support that Band of Builders’ Big Brew offers is hugely important. It’s tough out there in the construction industry, and it’s vital that tradespeople have somewhere to turn when they need support, counselling or financial relief.
“We’re proud of our partnership with Tarmac and Band of Builders, and we’re determined to reach as many of our branches as possible.
With more than 500 across the UK, there’s still a long way to go – but we’ll keep pushing to get into as many as we can and in front of even more customers next year.”
Construction firms increase mental health support
The campaign is being supported by Travis Perkins and Tarmac Blue Circle as part of efforts to increase awareness of mental health support among construction workers.
Garry Gregory, Packed Products Director at Tarmac, said: “If we can help one person, that’s great, but collectively, as two construction industry leaders, we have the chance to impact so many more.
“We’ve almost doubled in a year, it keeps growing momentum and so next year hopefully we’ll perhaps double again.”
Band of Builders CEO Gavin Crane said the campaign is intended to provide a low-pressure way for tradespeople to begin conversations about mental health.
He said: “Construction has the highest suicide rate of any industry and we’re losing two people a day to suicide.
“The Big Brew is an informal opportunity to start a conversation with a tradesperson, to connect with them and raise awareness of the resources available to support them if they’re struggling.
“The drop in sessions are not designed to be anything more than a soft approach to start that conversation, to let people know that they don’t have to struggle alone and that there is support available.”
Big Brew events continue across UK branches
The Big Brew campaign will continue across the Travis Perkins branch network, with tradespeople and contractors able to attend events at participating branches.
Travis Perkins operates more than 500 branches across the UK, supplying building materials, tools and related services to construction professionals and self-builders.
The expanded Big Brew programme forms part of a wider push to make mental health support more accessible to people working across the construction industry.
