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.”

Chris Brook-Carter

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