The Drinks Trust launches wellbeing initiative

The Drinks Trust is setting up a new scheme to assist businesses with wellbeing support for their employees dubbed the Business Advisory Programme (BAP). 

The move will see the programme provide what the industry charity describes as a meaningful wellbeing strategy that can provide support and proactive welfare solutions.

It follows a crisis in absenteeism across all trades in the UK, including the drinks and hospitality trade, with stress and mental health becoming an increasing issue. According to figures from the Chartered Institute of Professional Development, which surveyed 900 businesses, absences in the workplace are at their highest in a decade. The study revealed that for short-term absences, stress was cited as the reason in 76% of cases, with poor mental health cited for 63% of long-term absences.

The charity’s programme includes a wellbeing calendar, webinars as well as a library of resources. It will also include members having a choice of training options at reduced rates and there will be live events run throughout the year on wellbeing.

According to the Drinks Trust, the BAP will focus on four areas specifically: physical, mental, social and financial. A team of wellbeing champions will be in charge of delivery of these areas, with the programme sent to launch on 6 November as a trial by the initial members, which include Chapel Down, Davy’s, Drake & Morgan, Gusbourne, Hatch Mansfield, Jeroboams, Lay & Wheeler and Maison Marques et Domaines.

Speaking about the programme, Ross Carter, CEO of The Drinks Trust said: “For many years The Drinks Trust has been advocating for, and offering, a variety of holistic services aimed at the well-being of drinks and hospitality industry professionals. Recognising the inextricable link between employee well-being and organisational success, The Drinks Trust BAP focuses on support for the business to design their own well-being strategy. It does not replace traditional EAP programmes but between this and our range of traditional services, the BAP works equally well for businesses who do, and do not have an EAP already in place.”

Member of the BAP, CEO of wine retailer Jeroboams, Matt Tipping, said:“Becoming a BAP member gives us access to industry specific support for our managers and wellbeing champions. It provides training materials which we can use throughout our business and allows us to add optional modules to suit our specific needs. We are proud to be part of an industry-wide initiative led by The Drinks Trust which is harnessing the combined buying power of our industry to deliver a unique platform. A platform which would be out of reach for most companies trying to source these services independently.”

The Drinks Trust is still actively recruiting for a limited number of businesses to join for the launch year. Click here if you would like more information or to take part.