Adaptable mental health approach sets Osbit staff up for growth success
Osbit, a Northumberland-based engineering firm, is future-proofing its most valuable asset, its people, by evolving its already substantial wellbeing offering with a range of new and adaptable support options.
With the number of staff at its head office increasing rapidly, the firm is incorporating the highly flexible, tailored approach that it is known for in its specialist engineering projects into its existing employee offer, ensuring it continues to meet the varying needs of its innovative workforce.
Osbit has always placed staff development and wellbeing at the core of its offering, building resilience into its teams, starting at the project level. A relatively flat structure and non-hierarchical job titles underpin a commitment to staff training and rapid progression that sees engineers take early responsibility for large projects, supported by an experienced project peer and an allocated director. The company also offers a free communal lunch and has twice daily organisation-wide get-togethers, which are a foundation for internal communication and idea sharing.
New tools available to staff at Osbit include: four Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) England trained wellbeing first aiders, the introduction of regular visits from a Myers Briggs and support practitioner, and a personal development coach. These free to access services are aimed at helping staff with their personal development and the more complex side of work, as well as managing non-work factors which can impact happiness and effectiveness in the workplace. The company has also launched a wellbeing and development resource area on its intranet and is delivering a company-wide presentation on wellbeing, as part of an internally facing initiative.
Osbit Engineer, Martin Dilworth, who has engaged with the company’s wellbeing provision said:
“Osbit is a very considerate and caring company. As an engineer, you’re constantly putting out your ideas to be criticised and that can be quite a difficult thing to do. However, it’s managed really well here, and our support structure really allows you to develop both as an individual, and an engineer, into a role that suits you.”
Osbit Draughtsman Steve McFarling adds:
“Osbit is one of the first companies I have worked for that genuinely cares about the wellbeing of its staff. Osbit works harder, plays harder and expects more, but at the same time it supports us and offers us completely unencumbered opportunities to shine and achieve truly great things.”
Osbit’s Managing Director Brendon Hayward expands:
“Osbit is a teaching and learning focused organisation with big ambitions and so from day one, it made sense for us to invest in supporting our workforce’s wellbeing. Our company has grown immensely since its inception 10 years ago, but we have all worked very hard to retain the same caring, authentic culture that we originally set out with, because this is a key reason why our staff enjoy working here.
“The drive and dedication of our team has led to increased demand for our expertise in the offshore renewables and oil & gas markets and in the last year, our headcount has increased by over 30%. In the same way that our engineering success is based on supplying tailored solutions to suit different requirements, these latest wellbeing tools allow us to deliver more adaptable support to suit our employees’ varied needs.”