Corporate Profiles
Covid crisis makes health and wellbeing a priority for businesses
James Henson, Managing Director at Health Matters
A Coventry company which provides businesses with a tailored range of employee health benefit packages has experienced growth as firms across the UK and beyond look to prioritise the health and wellbeing of their staff. Health Matters, based at the Cobalt Centre on Middlemarch Industrial Estate, is an employee health and wellbeing intermediary. The firm was already experiencing an increase in conversations with businesses looking to support their staff, but Covid-19 has seen this accelerate further, with many companies now making employee health and wellbeing a key priority. Health Matters offers a range of services to businesses including group medical insurance, group life assurance, group income protection, health cash plans and employee assistance programmes.
It has clients based across the UK and overseas, and supports businesses from all industries. It works with companies to not only implement new benefit packages, but also to appraise what is already in place to ensure that they are applicable to both the employer and employees. The firm is built on five pillars – ‘Make a Difference’ emphasising that each individual at Health Matters has the ability to make a difference, ‘Quality Service’ which ensures the firm only works with the very best, ‘Pure Transparency’ to show the firm has an honest approach with its team and customers, ‘People Focussed’ demonstrating that Health Matters cares about its staff and clients and ‘Forward Thinking’ to show that the firm is at the forefront of the latest developments. James Henson, Managing Director at Health Matters, said: “We offer tailored support to our clients and begin by discussing any existing benefits, looking at how or if they add value to both the employer and employee. “Based on information gained from our initial discussions we then devise a report with recommendations before implementing and managing the schemes should they wish to progress.
“We often engage with companies that have had benefits in place for a number of years. We find that many continue to renew schemes which aren’t necessarily right for the business or don’t meet the needs of their staff. “There are also a vast number of new benefits or enhancements to existing schemes which businesses are not necessarily aware of which for instance not only provide support, but also encourage and reward healthy lifestyles or address topics such as financial wellbeing. “Looking after employee mental health and wellbeing is more important than ever, and at Health Matters we keep abreast of the latest industry developments to ensure we are providing the best service for our clients. “Covid has definitely seen employers focus more on the health and wellbeing of their employees and realise the benefits of looking after their staff.
“While some employees are unable to work from home so are concerned about their health, others are on furlough and some are working from home, potentially juggling home schooling or finding it difficult to switch off at the end of the day – all of which can have a significant impact on mental health. “Because of this we have not only seen our client base grow, we are also more engaged with our existing clients – something which will likely see us expand our team in the second half of the year. “Employees don’t just prioritise pay rises, but want to work for an employer which puts their health and wellbeing first, so I would advise any business, even those with benefits already in place, to see what is available.” Further information about Health Matters is available by visiting https://www.health-matters.co.uk/
“There are also a vast number of new benefits or enhancements to existing schemes which businesses are not necessarily aware of which for instance not only provide support, but also encourage and reward healthy lifestyles or address topics such as financial wellbeing.”
Bright start to the year for Advent Leading PR and communications firm Advent Communications has made a bright start to 2021 despite the continued impact of the Covid pandemic. The firm, which is based in Coventry, has landed several new contracts since the start of 2021 and added a senior member of staff just before the Christmas break. Advent, which was founded in 1998, offers a range of services including public relations, social media, video and photography, case study and ezine production as well as corporate communications strategy and advice, and crisis media handing. It works across a wide range of industries and for private and public sector organisations and has been heavily involved in a series of projects aimed at helping the regional economy weather, and then recover from, the Covid pandemic. Managing director Adam Dent, who founded the company, said the firm had used a host of communications methods to ensure companies and organisations were able to
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communicate with customers and their own staff. “I think the pandemic has only served to highlight the importance of communications – both internally and externally,” he said. “Suddenly working from home saw staff separated from colleagues and support networks, and it was vital that they were kept in the communications loop both for their own welfare but also to allow their organisations to successfully manage the huge transition. “Equally, it was important that companies and organisations ensured that there was continuity of service to their customers, and with face-to-face meetings ruled out, that meant flexing and strengthening communications.
“That saw us helping clients with increased social media, case studies, newsletters and videos, and with more input to directors and senior management teams. “That work, which is ongoing, has proved very successful and it has been inspiring to see how clients have responded in such a testing time.” Advent’s new work has come across a variety of sectors including business support, innovation, mental health and education. Adam added: “Like most companies we had to re-adjust the scope of our long-term planning, to firstly concentrate on negotiating the early weeks and months of lockdown and then pushing ahead.
“Our team has responded magnificently to the challenge and, in fact, have strengthened relationships with our clients. We operate very much in a people industry and we are looking forward to getting back into our offices – and no doubt being able to raise a glass together.” Advent has strengthened its team with the appointment of Chris Smith who has joined the company after two years working in media relations for the Shakespeare Birthplace Trust in Stratford-upon-Avon. Prior to that, he spent 20 years in journalism, and has a wealth of contacts in the public and private sector, and at regional, national and international media outlets.
“Suddenly working from home saw staff separated from colleagues and support networks, and it was vital that they were kept in the communications loop both for their own welfare but also to allow their organisations to successfully manage the huge transition.” www.cw-chamber.co.uk
