Portsmouth tech firm Novatech boosts staff morale with days off, extra support and trained mental health first aiders

Novatech, in Hamilton Road, Hilsea, embarked on its journey to promote mental health in the workplace in early 2019.

Now, a year later, the company has brought in a raft of measures to boost mental wellbeing – and has even given its backing to local mental health charity Solent Mind.

It spoke out about its work to mark World Mental Health Day on October 10.

Novatech has trained 10 per cent of its workforce to become mental health first aiders.

One of the newly qualified staff members is Stacey Chappell.

She said: ‘The course has given me a much greater understanding of various mental health illnesses, and reinforced how important it is to be able to support people by looking at things from their perspective.’

Another member of staff, Steve Kerrin said: ‘I wanted to be a mental health first aider due to my own personal experiences, so I was thrilled when Novatech asked me if i wanted to take part in the course.’

Head of human resources Lyndsay Moger said: ‘It is always presumed when you work in HR you know exactly what to say or do when it comes to staff struggling.

‘I have worried many times if I have said or done the right thing to support the staff.

‘The mental health first aider training has given me greater confidence in the support I am giving, as well giving me a better understanding about mental health conditions and how to direct people to the right support.’

As well as investing in training, the firm has recently partnered with Solent Mind, after its staff chose the charity, and it has raised £300 for it.

Earlier this year, Novatech also introduced three additional short notice annual leave days.

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Throughout the pandemic, Novatech has been encouraging staff to manage a good work and life balance by urging them to take annual leave, and it has organised virtual social events to help keep people connected and assure no one felt isolated while working remotely.

Novatech, a specialist manufacturer of custom, gaming, desktop PCs, laptops, workstations, servers and PC components for 33 years, has also launched a mental health email address where employees can confidently message if they need support but are too nervous to call someone.

A message from the Editor, Mark Waldron

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