Retail leaders join forces with retailTRUST to champion workers’ wellbeing
More than 20 retail chiefs, including ASOS CEO Nick Beighton, My Wardrobe HQ chair Jane Shepherdson and Scamp & Dude’s CEO and founder Jo Tutchener-Sharp, have joined forces with the retailTRUST to champion the health and wellbeing of the retail workforce.
At a free virtual event – Championing the health of retail on 10 and 11 May – panel sessions will look at the role of retailers in creating wellbeing, focusing on areas such as dealing with imposter syndrome and managing money worries.
Former political aide and mental health advocate Alastair Campbell will use the event to stress why employers need to drive openness around mental health.
At the event ASOS CEO Nick Beighton, British Retail Consortium CEO Helen Dickinson and Sach Kukadia, chairman of ReHaus and director of Residently, will discuss retail businesses’ responsibility for tackling societal issues and making a positive difference following the pandemic.
My Wardrobe HQ chair Jane Shepherdson and Scamp & Dude’s CEO and founder Jo Tutchener-Sharp will explain how businesses can uncover their purpose to boost job satisfaction and employee engagement.
In addition Crew Clothing Company’s CEO David Butler will discuss the benefits of mentoring with founder of Well Cool Clothing Kirsty Glynn and Pinterest’s strategic partnership manager Hannah Ngakane.
Other participants include Morrisons CEO David Potts, John Lewis Partnership director of people capability Jo Walmsley, Very culture and communications director Lauren Young and Pets at Home’s chief people and culture officer Louise Stonier.
ASOS's Beighton said of the initiative: “The past year has been incredibly difficult for everyone, and as we’ve adapted to new ways of working, limited social interaction, and an unprecedented amount of time spent indoors, supporting mental health in the workplace has been more important than ever. The benefits of this go far beyond boosting productivity and company morale.”
The BRC's Dickinson added: “All in retail have been impacted by the pandemic, from those in the front line helping to feed a nation, to those working in distribution centres and logistics ensuring we can get our latest deliveries.
"Many have faced challenges of being bounced from open to closed and back, bringing uncertainty to their lives and livelihoods. They are all heroes, and we must ensure we continue to support them, and each other, as we emerge from the crisis. UK retail will continue to be world-leading, but only thanks to the indomitable efforts of everyone who is part of our industry.”
The retailTrust charity has seen a surge in demand for its support services during the pandemic, said its CEO Chris Brook-Carter. "It is clear that the retail sector now has a huge role to play in building hope, health and happiness as we move out of this crisis," he said.
“It has never been more important for the industry to come together to understand how we can really look after and protect our colleagues and this event will begin to show what action needs to be taken to protect the future of the industry as well as sharing advice and expertise on a range of issues.
“One in four UK adults experiences a mental health problem at some point in their lifetime but four in four, so every single one of us, will experience a major setback or life event that can affect our mental and physical wellbeing. This is why retailTRUST stands #forthefour," Brook-Carter added.
Registration for the event is now open at retailtrust.org.uk/forthefour
The full event agenda is as follows:
DAY 1
The health of retail
David Potts, Morrisons chief executive
The new normal: what will retailers’ new role in society be?
Nick Beighton, ASOS chief executive officer
Helen Dickinson, BRC chief Executive
Sach Kukadia, ReHaus chairman, Residently director
Beyond imposter syndrome: a new path for health and wellbeing
Rob Cross, Muru Leadership founder
Why everyone should talk about mental health
Alastair Campbell, former political aide and mental health advocate
How to worry less about money
Alex Partridge, Wagestream wellbeing ambassador and partnership director
Nicholas Agwuncha, Money Medics co-founder
DAY 2
How to deal with uncertainty at work
Jo Walmsley, John Lewis Partnership director of people capability
Lauren Young, Very culture and communications director
Louise Stonier, Pets at Home chief people and culture officer
Trailblazing companies: how to have purpose at work
David McDowell, Brewdog president and COO
Jane Shepherdson CBE, My Wardrobe HQ chair
Jo Tutchener-Sharp, Scamp & Dude CEO and founder
How to be happy at work
Barjis Chohan, Barjis founder and CEO
It pays to be positive
Tim Woollias, Retail Pinterest sales manager
Maud Massart, Pinterest strategic partner specialist
Why everyone should have a mentor, yes even CEOs
David Butler, Crew Clothing Company CEO
Kirsty Glynn, Well Cool Clothing founder
Hannah Ngakane, Pinterest strategic partnership manager