How Everymind and Mars built a bespoke training programme that shifted team culture
Lara
Wrote this on, December 20, 2024
When Mars Wrigley UK, a leading global confectionery company, decided to invest in training for their teams’ mental health and resilience, they knew they wanted something different: something more tailored, more human, and more impactful. That’s where Everymind came in. Together, we created a bespoke training programme that combines cognitive and behavioural tools to address the unique challenges of field-based sales roles. We sat down with Lucy Searle, UK E-commerce Acceleration Head at Mars Wrigley, to share how it all came together.
“Mars already offers incredible associate support through a number of proactive programmes such as Energy for Life” Lucy explained. “But I realised there were opportunities to build on these resources, especially when it comes to helping employees understand how they think and behave.” Having personally experienced the transformative power of Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), Lucy saw how much these tools could help her team, not just in their work but in their lives.
Building the programme, together
From the start, it was clear Mars wanted something beyond a standard resilience programme. “We did not want a ‘plug and play’ solution,” Lucy said. “We wanted a programme that truly supported our associates, not just something to make them more productive.”
Developing the course was a collaborative process. In collaboration with Lucy, our Everymind team, including Clinical Psychologist Lauren Callaghan, Trainee Counselling Psychologist Milly Dexter, and Cognitive Behavioural Coach Kayleigh Atkinson, crafted a bespoke four-part Cognitive Behavioural Coaching (CBC) training programme. This took about a year to refine, ensuring it was as tailored as possible to the specific challenges sales teams face. Kayleigh summed it up perfectly, “It is a bespoke course we created to really focus on the individual challenges of sales roles and functions. It is highly bespoke to their needs and experiences.”
The course helps attendees understand what resilience is, why it matters, and how to apply practical strategies in both their personal and professional lives. It is not just about ticking boxes: it is about giving people tools they can use every day, from challenging negative thought patterns to building healthier responses to stress.
Kayleigh’s ability to bring the content to life was a game-changer. As Lucy put it,
We could have developed the best course in the world, but without the right facilitator, it would not have landed. Kayleigh brought a real sense of connection to every session. She has a way of making the content relatable without oversharing. It creates a safe space for people to open up.
Sam Roberts, Senior Wellbeing Strategist at Everymind, added “We had many discussions that helped us fine-tune the course and make sure it really worked for Mars’s team. It felt like we were solving the problem together.”
Shifting culture within the team
A standout success of this programme is how it provided Mars Wrigley’s sales teams with a shared language to openly discuss mental health. Terms like “catastrophising” have become part of everyday conversations, helping teams connect and understand each other better. “Our teams now understand each other on a deeper level,” Lucy shared. “It is not just about personal growth; it is about building a supportive, open team culture. People feel comfortable saying, ‘I think I am catastrophising here,’ and everyone gets it.”
The CBC training programme in action!
For a largely remote, field-based team, this shift is huge. Being on the road means spending a lot of time in your own head, which can lead to overthinking and stress. By equipping associates with CBT tools, the course has helped them manage these challenges more effectively.
Mars Wrigley measures success not just by feedback scores but by the lasting changes they see in how their teams work. Lucy shared,
The real measure of success is hearing that language still being used long after the course. That is how we know it has made an impact.
One associate shared “It has given me the tools to understand how my brain works. I have reflected on things I have never thought about before.”
Creating lasting impact
The ripple effect has been just as powerful. Teams are not just learning about themselves: they are learning how to better understand and support each other. That has led to stronger connections, better collaboration, and a real sense of psychological safety.
Choosing Everymind was not the easiest option for Mars Wrigley, but Lucy and her team knew it was the right one. “We could have gone with one of our pre-approved suppliers,” Lucy admitted.
We chose Everymind because we felt like they were on the same mission as us. This was not just another training programme for them, it’s their passion.
Sam echoed that sentiment: “For us, it is about making a difference. And when you are working with a partner like Mars, who shares that commitment, you can achieve something really special.”
From building resilience to creating connection and trust, the CBC resilience programme has had a lasting impact not just on individuals, but on how their teams work and thrive together. This collaboration between Mars and Everymind proves that when businesses invest in tailored, thoughtful mental health initiatives, the results are transformative.
If you’re interested in our bespoke training programme, simply get in touch to learn more.
