How Aldermore boosted their employee engagement scores by supporting the supporters
Lara
Wrote this on, November 7, 2024
Known for supporting individuals and businesses with personal and business finance, Aldermore’s commitment to its core mission – backing people to go for it in life and business – isn’t limited to customers. It’s also about taking care of their own people. We sat down with Justine Pernice, Head of Diversity, Inclusion and Wellbeing, and Erin Moura, Colleague Engagement Partner at Aldermore, to learn more about this transformative journey with Everymind, a partnership that has redefined how they approach wellbeing for their employees and set a new standard in the financial sector.
The key numbers:
- Since partnering with Everymind, 83% of employees report improved work-life balance
- 81% of staff feel Aldermore cares more about their health and wellbeing
- Achieved a Wellbeing Risk Index of 12%, significantly better than industry average of 41%
We’ve seen engagement scores better than I think most businesses, let alone in Aldermore I’ve ever seen. In my 35 years in financial services, I’ve never seen such low attrition rates and our business performance, now, beating the competition.
– Jon Cooper, Head of Mortgage Distribution and Great Minds Network Leader
Why Aldermore needed a proactive wellbeing culture
Aldermore Bank, a UK-based specialist bank, has made incredible strides in embedding mental health and wellbeing into its workplace culture. Financial services is known for its high pressure, long hours, and tight deadlines, all of which can easily lead to burnout or more serious mental health issues if not addressed early. Recognising these pressures, Aldermore knew they needed more than the standard reactive measures. They wanted a strategy that allowed them to support their employees proactively, addressing issues before they escalated. They wanted a proactive and holistic approach to mental health support, and that’s what drew them to Everymind. This collaboration set them on a course to transform how they support the wellbeing of their staff.
Creating a strong network of supporters
A key part of Aldermore’s approach was to establish a team of Mental Health First Aiders (MHFAs), and this was made possible through Everymind. Justine shared,
We wouldn’t have the Mental Health First Aiders without Everymind. They organised a very comprehensive two-day programme for our network… a seamless organisation, which I had no part in… I had complete confidence that it would be delivered amazingly, which it was.
Reducing the stigma around mental health was a priority for Aldermore, and together with Everymind, they’ve managed to shift towards a culture where people feel safe to seek support. The Great Minds Network, a peer-led support group within the business, has been essential in this shift. With around 35 members and growing, composed of MHFAs and champions, the group’s mission is simple but powerful: to remove the stigma around mental health and make it part of everyday conversation. This initiative has given employees at all levels access to mental health resources and created a real sense of community.
Jon Cooper, Head of Mortgage Distribution and Great Minds Network Leader noted “Knowing that there’s a trained network available, with people ready to listen without judgement, has made a huge difference… It reassures employees that they have a place to turn to, no matter what they’re dealing with.”
For us, it doesn’t end with the training
The platform provides MHFAs with ongoing support, letting them log interactions, track trends, and gain real-time insights into how employees are doing. This has made a huge difference, helping Aldermore keep a close eye on their people’s wellbeing and spot any early warning signs of distress. Justine added,
The Everymind platform enables us to log, track, and manage the incidents and occurrences from our Mental Health First Aiders… to understand what our colleagues are going through, if there are any gaps in the service that we offer.
One of the most powerful tools Aldermore gained from Everymind is data. Through the Everymind platform, they can get a full view of the mental health conversations taking place across the company. Every logged call captures key details, from the length and type of conversation to specific support needs, and this gives Aldermore a real understanding of their mental health landscape. It’s this data that allows them to make informed, strategic adjustments to their wellbeing initiatives.
These insights have allowed the business to create tailored support based on real needs. By identifying recurring challenges or stressors, they’ve been able to put targeted interventions in place, prevent issues from escalating, and create a work environment that feels responsive and supportive. The data has also guided the development of specific resources for common themes, like workload management, resilience, and personal health.
Asia Manzoor, PR Manager and MHFA, shared her personal experience of using the platform, “Everymind is brilliant. It makes me feel really supported… knowing that there’s so much information available, not just when you’re having these difficult or supporting conversations with colleagues, but for your own wellbeing too.” She added, “Sometimes, you just need that reassurance – ‘Did I say the right thing? Did I point them in the right direction?’ Having a structured platform to support this is invaluable.” This support helps MHFAs improve and strengthens the overall support network, making them more resilient over time.
Aldermore’s partnership with Everymind allows them to respond to feedback and continuously adapt based on employee needs and insights gathered from the MHFA network. For example, the Everymind platform includes a logging and tracking system that helps MHFAs reflect on their conversations and seek reassurance through the on-demand support feature.
Employee satisfaction and engagement skyrocket
Since Aldermore partnered with Everymind, they’ve seen a huge positive shift in employee feedback and engagement. Erin told us that according to their internal survey, “83% of employees now report better work-life balance, and 81% feel that the company genuinely cares about their health and wellbeing.” These figures are above industry standards and show how much the workplace culture has improved.
The success of the Everymind partnership is visible not just in internal wellbeing metrics but in how Aldermore is viewed within the financial services sector. Justine shared that their Wellbeing Risk Index, currently at 12%, serves as a measure of the proportion of employees at risk of poor mental health. This figure is calculated by the percentage of colleagues who rated their wellbeing below 6 out of 10 across key questions that assess their work environment, overall happiness, and whether they feel supported by their employer.
Aldermore’s 12% Wellbeing Risk Index is significantly lower than the industry average of 41% and the global benchmark of 39%, underscoring the company’s commitment to building a genuinely supportive workplace. This notable achievement reflects the positive cultural shift at Aldermore, where the focus on mental health and wellbeing has been integrated into everyday operations, helping create a healthier, more engaged workforce.
More than this, their commitment has delivered tangible business results. “We’ve seen engagement scores better than I think most businesses, let alone in Aldermore I’ve ever seen,” shared Jon, highlighting the cultural shift within the organisation. “In my 35 years in financial services, I’ve never seen such low attrition rates and business performance, now, beating the competition,” he added. This speaks to the commitment Aldermore has made to their people’s wellbeing, and with our partnership, it’s a commitment that’s paying off – both culturally and operationally.
Key challenges and outcomes
Supporting the wellbeing of the MHFA Network
- Challenge: Recognising the emotional toll of mental health conversations, Aldermore wanted to ensure MHFAs had the right support, training, and resources to help others without sacrificing their own wellbeing.
- Outcome: Everymind provided tailored support for MHFAs, offering a resource-rich environment and enabling continuous clinical oversight.
Ensuring network effectiveness and insight
- Challenge: To strategically plan wellbeing initiatives, Aldermore needed visibility into the types of mental health conversations taking place.
- Outcome: The Everymind platform provided comprehensive data insights, allowing Aldermore to adapt their approach based on real-time feedback and spot emerging trends.
Boosting employee engagement scores
- Challenge: They aimed to cultivate a supportive workplace culture and enhance employee engagement.
- Outcome: Since implementing Everymind’s support, employee satisfaction with work-life balance and engagement have significantly improved, helping to transform company culture.
Moving to proactive wellbeing approach
- Challenge: Aldermore wanted to move beyond reactive measures to adopt a preventative stance on mental health.
- Outcome: By gathering and analysing data through Everymind, Aldermore has been able to intervene early and fostering a healthier, more resilient workforce.
These outcomes showcase the powerful impact that a proactive approach to mental health can have on overall business success. Aldermore is proud of the strides they’ve made, but they see this as an ongoing journey with us. They aim to extend their wellbeing initiatives, continue supporting MHFAs who will in turn support more employees, and use data-driven strategies to adapt to changing needs.
The partnership between Aldermore and Everymind shows what can happen when a company puts mental health and wellbeing at the top of its agenda. Through data, support, and continuous improvement, Aldermore is setting a benchmark for how companies can create a resilient, engaged workforce.
If you’re interested in learning more about how we’re supporting our partners, check this page out here.
