Congratulations to A&M EDM. The Smethwick-based precision engineering company has been accepted onto the Thrive At Work Wellbeing Trial.

Thrive at Work is a pioneering programme being launched across the West Midlands by Thrive, the West Midlands Combined Authority’s Mental Health Commission.

It aims to encourage and empower employers to take an active role in supporting their employees’ wellbeing.

According to statistics shared at www.wmca.org, almost one in six people of working age have a diagnosable mental health condition. Presenteeism (attending work while ill) costs the West Midlands economy over £1bn in productivity every year.

So it seems vital that companies such as A&M EDM take active steps to support the wellbeing of their employees.

Thrive at Work gives employers guidelines on creating a workplace that promotes employee health. It focuses on areas such as health and safety and manager training. It looks at health areas such as mental, musculoskeletal and physical health, and promotes healthy lifestyles.

By applying for – and being accepted onto – the trial, A&M EDM will have access to a toolkit of local and national resources, including a health needs assessment template to determine which areas of Thrive at Work are most pertinent to its workforce. It will have access to an interactive website, with login areas and resources, and can choose to receive regular prompts and progress updates.

Some organisations in the trial will also take part in network groups to facilitate learning and change.

Melvin Wingfield, director of A&M EDM, thanked Think Sandwell for alerting him to the opportunity. In turn we would like to congratulate Melvin and his management team for being forward-thinking employers. We wish them the best of luck with the trial.

You can read more about A&M EDM in our first ever #madeinsandwell Monday feature, from 2017: Jet packs, hypersonic engines and awe-inspiring growth.

Does your Sandwell-based business have good news to share? We’d love to hear from you: contact Think Sandwell via our form.